The meeting placed special focus on the 150th birth anniversaries of two prominent cultural figures from Lithuania and Germany: Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis and Thomas Mann.
Speaking about Nida’s unique landscape, marked by a turbulent history, the President emphasized: “There is no better place to reflect on and discuss the legacy of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis and Thomas Mann, as well as the cultural and historical foundations of the strategic partnership between Lithuania and Germany.”
The President noted that although only a few summer months separate the anniversaries of Thomas Mann – who spent his interwar summers in Nida – and Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, their life stories are markedly different. Their personal journeys show how individual destinies not only reflect the histories of nations but also shape them.
“Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis did not live to see the growth and prosperity of an independent Lithuanian state. But make no mistake — his determination ‘to dedicate all my past and future work to Lithuania’ extended far beyond the boundaries of artistic expression,” the President said, underscoring the artists’ crucial role in fostering cultural dialogue and nurturing the idea of independence.
According to the President, Čiurlionis’ legacy reminds us that the Lithuanian state did not emerge out of nowhere in the 20th century. The restoration of statehood was not accidental – it was a natural step for a self-aware and confident nation.
“This is where I see the great power of culture – not always visible to the naked eye but playing a vital role in critical moments. Only by consciously exploring our culture and its history can we better understand who we truly are – and more effectively resist forces that wish us harm,” the President said.
He also highlighted that the unique landscape of Nida – where nature and human craftsmanship harmoniously coexist – has inspired not only Thomas Mann but also many other Lithuanian and German figures in literature, science and public life. Among them, special mention was given to Adalbert Bezzenberger – a scholar and longtime rector of the University of Königsberg. He not only spent summers on the Curonian Spit and conducted archaeological research there but also showed great interest in the Lithuanian language, becoming one of the founding figures of Baltic philology.
The President briefly introduced guests to the Nida School Chronicle, written in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which offers valuable insight into the history of Nida, the Curonian Spit and the Klaipėda region — where Lithuanians, Curonians and Germans once lived side by side.
Gitanas Nausėda emphasized that Lithuania, drawing on a centuries-old tradition, is ready to develop a broad and ambitious cultural exchange program with Germany.
During the meeting, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented Germany’s national award to Vitalija Teresa Jonušienė, founder and first director of the Thomas Mann Culture Center.
Earlier in the day, the Presidents of Lithuania and Germany, together with the First Ladies, visited Klaipėda, where they explored several historical and cultural heritage sites.
