5 Cool Places to Explore in Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad, or “Little Russia,” as
the locals call it, has gone through more than its fair share of historical
turmoil: founded by the Teutonic Knights, it then belonged to the Kingdom of
Poland, then to Prussia and the German Empire, only for it to finally become a
part of the USSR and then Russia. Discover the many things to do in
Kaliningrad, from learning about its maritime history to enjoying beautiful
music.
Königsberg Cathedral
The Königsberg Cathedral
is the most important Prussian building in Kaliningrad. The church was first
built as a Catholic place of worship, which later became Lutheran after the
Reformation. It was destroyed during World War II and rebuilt only recently, in
the 1990s.
Immanuel
Kant's tomb
Immanuel Kant, one of
the most important thinkers in the history of philosophy, was born and
spent his entire life in Königsberg, now Kaliningrad. He was buried in the
Königsberg Cathedral, and what was initially a small tomb inside the building
eventually became a modest mausoleum outside, in the north-east corner of the
Cathedral. Kant and Kaliningrad are inseparably connected; the places where he
lived and worked are most certainly worth seeing.
Amber Museum
Baltic is famous for its
amber: there is something hypnotizing about all the shades of gold it can take
on, and about the creatures trapped in it for millions of years. In
Kaliningrad’s Amber Museum, not only can you buy inexpensive amber
jewelry, you can see the most impressive pieces of amber found in the Baltic
out on display. The exhibition also includes some elaborate sculptures and a
brief history of amber processing in the Soviet Union.
Dancing
Forest
A few kilometers north
of the city, there is a narrow strip of land separating the Curonian Lagoon
from the Baltic Sea. It’s the Curonian Spit, a sandy dune leading from
Kaliningrad to Lithuania, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared by both
countries. If you have time, go there on a sunny day, enjoy the view of the massive
sand dunes, and dance in the Dancing Forest, where the trees are crooked in the
most bizarre ways for reasons yet unknown.
Maritime Museum
Kaliningrad is Russia’s
only port in the Baltic that never freezes; it is therefore extensively used
for both civil and military purposes. Russian scientific exploration of the
seas is displayed in the Museum of the World Ocean. Pop by to discover the
fascinating world of underwater creatures, and the no-less fascinating
equipment used to observe them.
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