Kaliningrad (De: Königsberg; Pr: Twangste)

Königsberger Dom

Kaliningrad is the westernmost city in Russia.Until July 4, 1946, the city was named Konigsberg (De: Königsberg), formerly Koroleviec; before 1255 — Twangste (Pr:. Twangste, Tuwangste, Twanksta). It is located at the confluence of the Pregoli River with the Kaliningrad Bay. The city has a population of about 489,584 people (as of 2024), and it is the second largest in the Northwestern Federal District. Kaliningrad is an important transport hub, with sea and river ports, as well as Khrabrovo International Airport. The city is known for its museums, theaters, and historical monuments, including the Gothic-style cathedral. Kaliningrad was the capital of East Prussia until the end of World War II and was ceded to the USSR in 1945.

History&Geography

History

Sambians (before 1255)

The territory of modern Kaliningrad was inhabited by Sambians or ancient Russians, known as Tvangste (the Prussian word tvinksta means a pond formed by a dam), as well as several ancient Prussian settlements, including the fishing village and the port of Lipnik (now it and the territory of Sakkame are part of the Leningrad region of Kaliningrad), as well as farming the villages of Sakkame and Trakkame.

Attractions

Konigsberg Castle

Kaliningrad Cathedral is a landmark landmark of the 14th century, built in the brick Gothic style and located on the island of Kanta. Founded in 1333, the cathedral was destroyed during World War II and rebuilt only in the 1990s.

Today it serves as a cultural and religious center, housing Lutheran and Orthodox chapels, as well as the grave of Immanuel Kant. Inside there is a museum dedicated to the philosopher and the history of the city.

The cathedral is famous for its unique organ complex and concert hall.

Address : Cathedral, 1 Kanta Street, Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad region, Russia.

Website: https://sobor39.ru

Visit time: 1-2 hours.

Admission: paid, it is recommended to purchase tickets in advance.

Population

After World War II and the annexation of the Kaliningrad Region by the Soviet Union, the German population left the region. By 1945, there were only about 5,000 Soviet citizens living here. The mass migration of Germans to Germany (about 100,000 people) occurred in 1947-1948, and about 400,000 Soviet citizens arrived at the same time.

Kaliningrad today is populated mainly by Russians, descendants of post-war immigrants. Representatives of other Slavic nationalities (Belarusians, Ukrainians), as well as small communities of Tatars, Germans, Armenians, Poles and Lithuanians also live here.

Interesting facts:

1. Colloquially, the city is sometimes called Koenig.

2. After joining the Soviet Union, the city was renamed in honor of Mikhail Kalinin. At the same time, Kalinin himself never visited these places.

3. Since the city is an enclave, surrounded on all sides by territories of different countries, every Kaliningrad citizen has a passport. Without it, it will be possible to get to Russia only by air.

4. It often rains in Kaliningrad during the warm season, and snowfalls in winter. On average, precipitation is observed here for about 180 days a year.

5. Among all the Baltic cities, Kaliningrad is second only to Vilnius and Riga in terms of population.