City of Baltiysk: sights and history

The most western point of Russia is Baltiysk. The sights of this city and its history are described below in the article.

City of Baltiysk: history

On the site of the city in the XIII century was a small fishing village called Pillau ("fortress"). The village belonged to the Prussians. In the XVI century the village became an important port of the duchy, which contributed to its frustration. With the opening of the shipping harbor, the first fortifications and warehouses began to appear here.

In the XVII century in the harbor settled the Swedes. They began renovating the old fortifications of the village and built a fleet resembling a star in shape. Now this place is the main attraction of Baltiysk. In 1635, the village was transferred to the management of Brandenburg, after payment of the ransom by local residents.

Pillau is gradually expanding. At the end of the XVII century there is a lighthouse and a stone church, and in 1725 it receives the status of a city. In the war with the French, Russian troops and Napoleon's troops took turns winning the city. The last was Napoleon in 1807, but he had to retreat, since peace was concluded with Russia.

The city of Baltiysk appeared after the end of World War II, when the entire territory of the Kaliningrad region passed to Russia, and the name Pillau remained only in history. At present it is a port city, which is the westernmost point of the country. Baltiysk is also a naval base of the Russian Federation.

Baltiysk: sights of architecture

The first significant attractions are the lighthouse. He is considered a symbol of the city. It was built by Yakov Shinkel in place of a wooden one. The previous lighthouse was not clearly visible to the ships, but the new one was visible for 15 miles.

The building of the old Gothic church is now the Cathedral of the Baltic Sea Fleet. The St. George's Cathedral was opened in 1991. In 2001, here brought the relics of General Ushakov, who was ranked as a saint.

What else can impress Baltiysk? The sights of the city is an ancient architecture. The oldest buildings are the Western and Eastern forts, as well as the ruins of the castle Lochstedt. The inhabitants of the village of Pillau built the castle. At first it was made of wood, but later it was replaced with a stone version. The western fort was built at the same time as the Eastern Fort, but it was much better preserved. From the Eastern Fort remains little.

The Museum

When the city of Baltiysk (Kaliningrad region) was under the rule of the Swedes, a citadel was built here on the orders of the King of Sweden. The construction was not completed and the local residents themselves completed the citadel. It was repeatedly rebuilt and reconstructed.

Now the citadel, according to the original plan, has the form of a pentagonal star. Each side of it is 80 meters high and has its own bastion: Prussia, Albrecht, Kronprinz, Koenig, Kenigen.

Since 2000 the Museum of the Baltic Fleet has been opened in the citadel. Visitors can see aqualungs of different years, models of warships and their real details. The museum also keeps the details of military aircraft and missiles.

Monuments

Many historical events survived Baltiysk. The sights of the city speak eloquently about this. There are many interesting monuments, for example, a monument to Peter I. It's amazing to see such a monument in a city that became Russian only after the Second World War. But Peter I fell in love with Pillau and came here several times. In 1998, on the 300th anniversary of the Baltic Fleet, the monument was erected to the emperor.

In 2004, a monument to Empress Elizabeth was erected in Baltiysk in honor of the victories of Russian troops during her reign. The empress in the form of a colonel sits proudly on a galloping horse.

There is also a monument in Baltiysk to the famous hydro-builder and academician who lived in the city in the XIX century. Honorary citizen of the city Gottild Hagen - the author of most fortifications, the south mole and harbor. The monument to the academician was built in 1887.

The city has been ported since ancient times, so the sculpture of a woman waiting for her husband's return from swimming is considered one of the main symbols of the city. A woman holds a child in her arms and looks out into the sea, embodying the fate of the seamen's wives and their joy from the return of their husbands home.

Conclusion

On the shore of the Baltic Strait is the most western city of Russia - Baltiysk. Sights show the interesting and turbulent history of the settlement: the remains of fortress walls, castle ruins, urban architecture and interesting monuments, the museum of the Baltic Fleet - all this is worth seeing at least once.