The city of Koenigsberg, or Kaliningrad, is known as the "city of eight gates". For several centuries, its center was surrounded by new buildings, not all of which have survived to this day. However, those that have survived attract tourists year-round. One of the most visited places in Kaliningrad is the Sackheim Gate. Read about them in the article.
All gates of Koenigsberg
Tourists still come to this city, which in ancient times served as a fortress, to look at samples of German architecture, to listen to stories about how their history developed. Initially, Königsberg was surrounded by ten gates, but during the Second World War, some of them were destroyed. There are eight left in total.
All of them are made in different styles of German architecture. Now they are almost not used for their intended purpose. They are popular tourist spots. In contrast to buildings built in other times, they attract people from all over the world.
What forgate used?
At different times they served different purposes. Now almost all of them are places where you can spend time culturally. The gates of Königsberg, or Kaliningrad, include:
- Freeland Gate, where a museum was organized in 2002. Here you can visit exhibitions of antique items found in the post-war period. There is also a local history museum here, where you can find information about how the way of life was built in the old Kaliningrad.
- The Brandenburg Gate is still functioning for its intended purpose: transport passes through them, tracks for trams are located here. They are protected by the state as they are an architectural monument.
- The Friedrichsburg Gate is currently being restored. However, this does not prevent the branch of the Museum of the World Ocean located in them from working. Here you can learn the history of shipbuilding, see drawings and photographs dedicated to this industry. In addition, samples of boats produced in Russia are also in this museum.
- Rosgarten gates are one of the most beautiful of all the surviving gates of Königsberg. They currently house a cafe. The casemates that surround the opening are used as entrances and exits, wardrobes, utility rooms and kitchens.
- King's Gate has been rebuilt and destroyed more than once. Once a bookstore, a cafe and even a warehouse worked in them, now they are a branch of the Museum of the World Ocean. The most valuable samples of amber are collected here.
- Used to be in the Ausfal Gatemilitary center, bomb shelter, warehouses. A water collector was once placed here. At the end of the twentieth century, the chapel of St. George was erected in honor of the fallen soldiers. Now both the chapel and the gate are part of the city's art and history museum.
- Sackheim Gate is widely used for all kinds of cultural events. As a rule, various conferences, concerts and exhibitions are often held here.
- The railway gate belongs to the history museum. They lead to the park, but war-themed exhibits will soon be placed on the squares.
History
The Sackheim Gate is part of the first rampart fortification in Kaliningrad, which was built at the beginning of the seventeenth century. The architectural project was created by Professor Strauss, who taught at the University of Königsberg. In the 1860s, the building was rebuilt according to the project proposed by Ernst Ludwig von Aster. Before they became what they are today in 1848, they were made of wood.
Until the end of the nineteenth century, it was possible to get into the city only through these gates, because it was here that a certain checkpoint was located.
Architecture
If you choose an analogue, then the Sackheim Gate is most similar to the Friedrichsburg Gate. They have a massive construction, they are heavy, durable and massive. They even have towers decorated with lancet windows and high reliefs. They portrayed the heroes of the wars with Napoleon. On two portraitOn the medallions one could see such military figures as Johann David Ludwig Yorck and Friedrich Wilhelm Bülow. Unfortunately, there are currently no high reliefs on the gates.
They used to have a Black Eagle on their outer side. Now it is impossible to see it in its original place, but people remember it. The fact is that he became one of the free symbols of the city called Königsberg, or Kaliningrad. The Sackheim Gate was the site of the highest Prussian award, the Order of the Black Eagle. His motto was: "To each his own."
Layout
As for the layout of the structure, it can be called special. For example:
- The niches that are located between the loopholes resemble a Latin cross, which is also called the cross of the West, as well as the cross of Life.
- At the entrance to the city there was an opening for a drawbridge. Now the ditch he was driving through looks like an overgrown ditch.
In addition, the presence of two portrait medallions with high reliefs and the Black Eagle make the architecture of the gate special.
Destination
Initially, the gate called Zackheim was supposed to be part of the city's defensive system. They were built strong and powerful in order to fulfill their function for many centuries. However, soon the ramparts, which were also part of the first fortification of Koenigsberg, lost their function, so the gates began to be perceived as an analogue of the triumphal arch.
Sackheim Gate, which has a history of several centuries, served for various purposes. After the Second World War died down, they were used as a warehouse. So they served until the sixth year of the third millennium.
After that, their restoration began, then they were passed from hand to hand. As a result, they were given under the control of the Kaliningrad Union of Photographers. Since that time, that is, since 2013, an art platform called “Gate” has been created here.
Treasures
It is believed that one of the places where a large number of treasures is located is the city of Kaliningrad. The Sackheim Gate, photos of which can be found in this article, once again confirm this point of view.
So, in the twentieth century, and if you name the exact date, then September 1, 1979, a valuable treasure was found in the basement of this architectural monument. The box that was dug up here contained unique examples of dishes made from lace porcelain, crystal and minerals.
Tours
People who live in Kaliningrad or decide to come to this city to get acquainted with its sights should definitely visit the Sackheim Gate. An excursion to this place will give tourists the opportunity to get to know the history better and see examples of German architecture.
Once Kaliningrad was known as the greenest city in the country. To restore it to its former glory, people are planting trees everywhere and creating entiresquares. One of them is located near this gate. In addition, there is a lake near the Sackheim Gate, which should also be visited while walking along the old Königsberg, or Kaliningrad.
