Unesco world heritage site
Curonian Spit (Kurschskaja Kossa)
The Curonian Spit is between Klaipėda (Memel in German) and Lesnoi, it belongs to Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) and Lithuania and is therefore cross-border. It is an approx. 100 km long peninsula, the widest point of which is around 4 km wide and which separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. In earlier times the vegetation was cut down in many places on the island, and the sandy soil no longer had a hold. There were shifting dunes, some of which were later planted with pine trees, birches and juniper trees.
Places were buried under the great sand dunes until the 19th century. Near Nidda and Pillkoppen are the largest dunes with a height of approx. 70 m. Many artists saw the special charm of the landscape, and pictures of the Curonian Spit and the Curonian Lagoon were created by Lovis Corinth, Bischoff-Culm, Max Pechstein, Schmidt-Rottluff, Wilhelm Eisenblätter, Ernst Mollenhauer and others.
The national park is located on the peninsula ” Kurschskaya Kossa “. In addition to the Museum of the Curonian Spit, visitors to the dune landscape can also visit the famous ornithological station in Rossitten.
The Curonian Spit was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000.
Cities
In addition to the cities shown here, there are about 20 other cities or towns with over 2,000 residents
Kaliningrad (formerly Koenigsberg)
The city was founded by the German order of knights during a crusade in 1255. In later centuries it was an important Hanseatic base and in 1701 King Friedrich III elected. her to his coronation site. The city center and many historical buildings were unfortunately destroyed in the Second World War. In addition to the city gates, numerous churches have also been preserved. around 424,000 people currently live in the city
Sowetsk
In Sowetsk former Tilsit is home to around 43,000 people
Tschernjachowsk
In Tschernjachowsk former Insterburg is home to around 42,000 people
Baltiysk (formerly Pillau)
Here still is the main base of the Russian fleet on the Baltic Sea, the city is therefore to be banned before for tourists. About 33,000 people live in the city
Churches
” Königsberg Cathedral” in Kaliningrad
The building was originally built in the 14th century in north German brick Gothic, restored after its destruction in the Second World War and now houses the Immanuel Kant Museum. At the rear of the cathedral is the completely preserved grave of Kant.
St. George’s Church in Pravdinsk (formerly Friedland)
The late Gothic hall church was built in the 14th century.
Church in Gvardeisk, 17th century.
Parish Church of St. Adalbert in Zelenogradsk (Cranz)
Museums, knights’ castle
Museum of the Oceans in Kaliningrad
The former German cargo ship “Mars” houses a museum about the fauna and flora of all seas and the military submarine B-413 houses a submarine fleet exhibition. You can also see the wreck of a wooden ship from the 19th century, which was found in an open-cast amber mine in 2000.
Museum of History and Folk Art in Kaliningrad
The collections have been housed in the former town hall on the castle pond since 1991. On the 1st floor there is the exhibition on regional fauna, prehistory and early history, the history of the Prussians, the Teutonic Order and the Prussian Monarchy, the 2nd floor is dedicated to recent history from the Second World War and on the 3rd floor there are exhibits from Russian See folk art.
Amber Museum in Kaliningrad
With over 6,000 exhibits, the Amber Museum in the Dohna Tower is one of the most important in the world. The finds with rare insect inclusions from the Palmnicken opencast mine and the handicrafts are particularly exceptional.
Knight Order Castle Balga
The remains of this fascinating knight order castle from the 13th century are in Veseloe.
Natural beauties
Curonian Spit (Kurschskaja Kossa)
For details see above under UNESCO – World Natural Heritage
Amber
coast The Baltic coast of the Kaliningrad region is known as the so-called amber coast because it has the largest deposit of this relatively rare material in the world.
Samland (Semljandskij Poluostrow)
The largest amber deposit in the world is located at Jantarny (Palmnicken) on the approximately 75 km long and 30 km wide Baltic Sea peninsula with its beautiful sandy beaches.
Large Moosbruch (Bolschoje Mochowoje Boloto)
The large moor area on the southeastern bank of the Curonian Lagoon represents a retreat for many endangered animal and plant species, 148 km² of which are under nature protection.
Rominter Heide
The former hunting ground of the Prussian nobles is located in the southeast of the Kaliningrad area and is enjoying increasing popularity again today.
Wystiter See in Rominter Heide
The 17 km² large lake on the border with Lithuania is under nature protection because of its special flora and fauna.
