One of the most interesting and original cities in Russia, without a doubt, is Kaliningrad. City tours are very exciting and rich. Still would! After all, here you can visit the world's largest Amber Museum, visit the grave of the greatest philosopher, wander through the remains of one of the many city forts.
Many people book excursions to Kaliningrad from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Pskov, Poland and the B altic states. Let's go to this unusual and ancient city!
Kaliningrad - a city through the ages
Kaliningrad is an unusual city in many ways. The spirit of Europe is felt literally at every step. Kaliningrad, or Koenigsberg, as it is often called, has a rich history and many interesting sights. That is why excursions in Kaliningrad are so popular and in demand today.
The city has a special geographical position, because this region is an enclave between Lithuania and Poland and is not territorially connected with the rest of Russia. On the other hand, it is thisthe unique symbiosis of Russian and European spirit attracts many tourists from nearby countries.
The history of the city began in the thirteenth century, when a Teutonic castle was founded here, on the shore of the bay. "Royal Hill" (or, in German, Königsberg) - this is how the medieval knights called this area. Around the same time, strongholds appeared in neighboring settlements. All these ancient cities are included today in numerous excursions around Kaliningrad and the Kaliningrad region.
Over time, the castle turned into a small town where a church is being built, a university is being laid. Soon Koenigsberg became an important center of East Prussia. As a result of World War II, the city became part of the USSR and was renamed Kaliningrad. Unfortunately, it suffered greatly from the hostilities: about 80% of the historical buildings were destroyed. Nevertheless, there is something for tourists to see today.
Excursions in Kaliningrad are usually carried out by well-read local historians who love their native land very much. Therefore, they will certainly be able to tell a lot to tourists and all guests of the B altic city.
Modern Kaliningrad: attractions, excursions
The most popular tourist attractions in the city are the Amber Museum, the Cathedral with the grave of the philosopher Immanuel Kant, the Fish Village quarter, as well as a number of surviving fortifications of the 19th century. General sightseeing tour of Kaliningrad, as a rule, includesvisiting all these attractions.
Guests of the city are usually attracted by local establishments. So, in Königsberg there are a lot of cozy bars decorated in British or English style, where you can try delicious liqueurs and cocktails. Excursions around Kaliningrad and the region are not only walking along the old streets and visiting the forts, but also visiting the many natural beauties that abound in this region. But these places will be discussed a little later. Now let's get acquainted with the most interesting sights in the city itself.
The most popular excursions in Kaliningrad include a visit to the so-called Kant Island with a 14th century cathedral, the fort "King Friedrich Wilhelm I", the Fish Village, and show tourists the ancient city gates and the remains of bastions. Many people are also very interested in visiting Amalienau - an area where you can feel the spirit of the old Prussian Königsberg.
State Amber Museum
Excursions in Kaliningrad are hard to imagine without visiting this unique place. This is the world's largest amber museum, as well as the only cultural facility of its kind in the country dedicated to only one mineral. And what!
Amber, as you know, is the resin of relict trees, which ended up in sea water millions of years ago and was transformed into a solid mineral in this environment. The museum was opened in 1979 in the tower of the Don.
There are 28 halls inwhere you can see pieces of amber weighing up to 4 kilograms, as well as about two thousand products from it. These are paintings, sculptures, dishes, jewelry, ship models and much more.
Fish Village and Kant Island
The Fish Village is an ethnographic, historical and cultural center, a favorite vacation spot for Kaliningrad residents and guests of the city. Work on its creation began in 2006. This is a complex of buildings built in the German style, which is located on the banks of the Pregol River, between the High and Honey bridges. The center includes several facilities. These are hotels, cafes, restaurants, an observation tower, information and sports and entertainment centers.
Very close is another attraction of the city - Kant's Island with the Gothic Cathedral, built in 1380. The sacred building was badly damaged during World War II. Now the building serves as a museum and a concert hall.
In 1804, the great German philosopher Immanuel Kant was buried in the tomb of the cathedral. After 120 years, a small symbolic mausoleum with a stone coffin was built near the temple in honor of the thinker. However, Kant himself is not buried in it.
Konigsberg fortifications
The city in its history was overgrown with fortifications three times: in the 14th, 17th and 19th centuries. During the last defensive period, a powerful system of bastions, city gates and forts was created. The last 15 pieces were built. They are located both on the right and on the left bank of the Pregol.
What is interesting: Firstthe world war actually bypassed Kaliningrad, so the forts of the city were not affected. But during the Second World War, they, oddly enough, were used for their intended purpose. The strong walls of the forts withstood even direct hits from 305mm shells!
The best preserved fort in the city is No. 3 (the old name is Quednau). Nowadays, it is actively visited by tourists.
Interesting places in the Kaliningrad region
Kaliningrad region is no less interesting and rich in sights than its regional center. Tourists are interested in small towns of this region: Svetlogorsk, Zelenogradsk, B altiysk and others.
The city of Svetlogorsk is primarily a famous and old resort on the B altic coast. At one time, the writer Thomas Mann and the storyteller Hoffmann lived here. And in the city there is a wonderful organ, which is known for its sound throughout the B altic coast. Svetlogorsk is surprisingly well preserved, even the dashing years of the war did not catch it.
Another interesting city in the Kaliningrad region is B altiysk. Here is a beautiful promenade, the fabulous Pillau fortress and the fascinating Museum of the B altic Fleet.
Curonian Spit: excursion from Kaliningrad
The Curonian Spit is a unique natural formation located just 50 kilometers north of Kaliningrad. "The kingdom of the sea, dunes and bird voices" - this is how Wilhelm von once described this paradiseHumboldt.
Sand spit stretches for 98 kilometers. Today it is divided between two states - Russia and Lithuania. The width of the Curonian Spit ranges from 400 meters to 4 kilometers.
Geographers say that this natural formation has no analogues in all of Europe. On a small piece of land, you can see both typical desert and tundra landscapes. It is here that the highest and northernmost dune in Europe, Efa, is located, the height of which reaches 64 meters.
Excursions to the spit from Kaliningrad are organized regularly. At the 37th kilometer of the route, all tourists stop to see with their own eyes an unusual piece of pine forest - the so-called dancing forest. The trunks of local trees are bent and twisted in a bizarre way. Scientists believe that the cause of such a strange phenomenon is the caterpillars of wintering sprouts, which eat the apical buds of young pine shoots, distorting their further growth.
Trips from Kaliningrad to Poland
Poles and Germans are quite frequent guests in ancient Königsberg. On the other hand, Kaliningraders also like to visit neighboring states as tourists. So, excursions to Poland from Kaliningrad are in rather high demand among Russians. After all, the southern state border is within easy reach, and right behind it there is a lot of interesting things!
First of all, it is worth highlighting the Polish city of Gdansk with its numerous medieval architectural monuments. Located 60 kilometers south of the borderthe town of Olsztyn, in whose castle Nicolaus Copernicus lived and worked. Elbląg is very beautiful with its gothic churches and old renaissance buildings.
In conclusion…
Kaliningrad, attractions, excursions, tourism… All these words go together very well. It is very difficult to imagine a modern city without travelers and tourists who came from other regions of Russia, as well as from Poland, Lithuania, Germany.
Excursions around Kaliningrad and the Kaliningrad region are becoming more and more popular and in demand. The "top five" city attractions include the Cathedral, the Amber Museum, the "Fish Village" center, Fort No. 3 "King Friedrich Wilhelm I", the city zoo, Amalienau - a well-preserved Prussian area.
Excursions to the Curonian Spit from Kaliningrad, as well as to other cities of the region - B altiysk, Svetlogorsk, Zelenogradsk are also very popular.
