Lighthouses around the world date back to very ancient times. Of course, they differed from the towers rising along today's coasts. In the distant past, sailors heading out to the open sea were shown the way by the stars, the sun, the wind and even birds. Later, bonfires lit on coastal heights became the heralds of ships. Yet there is no lack of romantic mystery about the Juodkrantė lighthouse, which helps sea wanderers find the shore. Rising on Witches' Hill, surrounded by countless legends, the beacon gains extra mystique from the dense forests around it. Built in 1953, the coastal beacon, standing almost a kilometre from the sea, has been helping sailors find their way ever since it was built; it is still used as a navigational aid today and works in a common chain with Lithuania's other maritime lighthouses. Although the lighthouse is only 20 metres tall, the high Witches' Hill on which it stands raises it to as much as 75 metres. All over the world lighthouses differ in shape, colour and the signals they send, so you certainly won't find another like the one in Juodkrantė. The massive tower of this beacon is made of metal and is square; its lower part is openwork, and the upper part is clad with light-coloured boards. The lighthouse is fitted with a lighting device, and its white light signal piercing the night sky can be seen from as far as 33 kilometres, or 18 nautical miles. At the top of the coastal beacon there is a viewing platform – just imagine the panorama of rolling waters that opens up from here!