Kaliningrad region, Zelenogradsk city: attractions

The city of Zelenogradsk of the Kaliningrad region is an ancient city and a famous resort. It is located on the shores of the Baltic Sea, which makes it attractive for tourism. What is interesting about Zelenogradsk? Attractions and features of the city are described below.

From Kranz to Zelenogradsk

Zelenogradsk is considered one of the oldest cities in the region. It is based on three years earlier than the regional center of Kaliningrad. In 1252, in its place was a roadside inn "Krantakrug", in which the knights of the Teutonic Order dropped on the way to the Curonian Spit. Later, there appeared a small fishing village of Krantz (from "Krantas" - "steep bank").

At the beginning of the XIX century, these places are gaining popularity among tourists. This occurs after the famous physician Franz Kessel proved that the methods of traditional medicine are too loaded in taking medication and bleeding instead of sunbathing and spending time in the sea air. Such a statement caused a stir in Europe.

In the seaside cities come to rest. Infrastructure Krantz begins to expand. There are new recreation areas, baths, boarding houses, sanatoriums. Every year the number of guests increased, and thanks to high-quality services the city received the title of Royal Resort in 1844. The following year, the first railway branch appeared between Kranz and Königsberg (Kaliningrad).

In 1945, during the war, the city was conquered by the Red Army men. Battles were fought around, but the city survived in the majority. In the course of the Potsdam Agreement, after the victory, the city, together with the region, passes to Soviet Russia. In 1946 he was renamed Zelenogradsk.

Zelenogradsk: sightseeings

The streets of the city breathe history. Many centuries have passed since Kranz, or Zelenogradsk, was founded. Places of interest in the architecture of the "Prussian times" have been preserved to this day. In the city you can find many old German buildings, on some even you can find the symbols of the Prussian culture.

The modern hotel "East Prussia" is located in a building, built in 1906. It is perfectly preserved high relief, depicting the man's face and high relief with the initials of the former owner. Well preserved are also the buildings of the post office built in the 20th century, the water-mud-baths, the railway station, the villas Krell. These structures are considered objects of cultural heritage of local significance.

Not far from the station is a beautiful old red brick building. Previously, it was a private villa, which now houses the Zelenograd city museum of local lore. The exposition in the museum is small, so it's best to walk around the museum with a guide. Here much will be told about the East Prussian region, about the foundation and development of Zelenogradsk.

Sculptures and monuments

The former city of Krantz has developed as a resort town, so it has many avenues for walking. Alley near the water (a kilometer long) was built after the First World War. Before, it was wooden.

Now there are modern bronze sculptures. Sculptures on the embankment of Zelenogradsk are very realistic. Some depict children with pigeons, other children on a swing or children watering a tree, another sculpture depicts a young girl.

On Pogranichnaya Street there is a monument to Zelenograd cats. It is a modern forged monument that depicts a cat sitting on a window. The cat sits with a rather friendly look, with a butterfly around his neck. The highlight of the monument is that it can be rotated and rolled like a carousel. At the base of the monument is a flounder - a symbol of Zelenogradsk.

Unusual places

Not only the historical past is rich in Zelenogradsk. The sights of this city are growing now. More recently, the Museum of Skulls and Skeletons, or the Ministry of Emergency Situations, was opened in the city.

More than 200 exhibits from around the world represent an amazing collection. Near the exhibits are small messages and comments either humorous or educational. The task of the museum's creators is not only to surprise visitors, but also to tell about the structure of the human body and its capabilities.

In MES there is a labyrinth in which the sense of space changes. The walls of the labyrinth form multicolored ribbons hanging vertically. The colors of the "walls" were selected due to the advice of psychotherapists and are designed to evoke in the visitors a sense of calm and serenity.

Zelenogradsk Kaliningrad region is full of places and for entertainment, such as Quest West. In this questum, everyone can try their hand at solving complex problems in order to save the world from a threatening pandemic or to find the hidden "Treasures of a Prussian cat." Pass quests in the entertainment center "Paradox", which is now considered one of the most interesting sights of the city.

cat house

Museum of cats "Murarium" is an exhibition of a private collection and a real holiday for kotolyubov. The history of the original museum began in 1985 with a donated statuette in the form of a cat. The owner of the gift began to collect all kinds of images of cats and in the end collected so much that was enough for the opening of the museum.

In the "Murarium" there are many statuettes, boxes, magnets, charms, holders for rings with cats. Here you can find even books about cats and listen to lectures about them. In the museum everything is thought out and originally designed, and on the walls you will find a lot of interesting and funny inscriptions. If you do not come personally, the museum has a website where you can visit virtually on an excursion.

Located Murarium in the water tower, which was built in 1905. A tower 40 meters high was considered a symbol of Kranz. In 2012, it was restored, but retained its former features and partly masonry. On its upper floor there is an observation deck.

Royal Square

A legend about Friedrich Wilhelm IV is connected with Kranz. The legend tells of the times when Krantz was part of Prussia. In 1843, King of Prussia Wilhelm visited Krantz and planted a tree in honor of his mother Louise. The tree, they say, is growing now, and to remember this event, Queen Louise's square was decorated with a stone with a commemorative plaque.

Queen Louise is a symbol of Prussia. She was the wife of Tsar Nicholas I and the grandmother of Emperor Alexander II. In 2007 Germany gave Zelenogradsk a copy of the sculpture of Queen Louise from the National Gallery in Berlin.

Now the bronze bust is in the square named after the queen. It is mounted on a column, and beside it there is an inscription on the commemorative plaque: "My kingdom is different in the world".

Cathedrals

Not far from the city park is the Transfiguration Cathedral. The building was built in 1897. It belonged to the Lutheran community of Kranz, which was formed in the city in 1877.

The temple is 40 meters high and is made in red brick. On the altar in the southern part of the cathedral there was a picture with a story from the life of Christ. Previously, there was an organ in the temple. During the First World War, the bells were sent for melting to the front, and after it the inhabitants of Kranz made new ones, but they did not survive. At the same time, colored stained-glass windows were installed in the church.

In Soviet times, the building of the church served as a sports hall, and in 2007 it was transferred to the management of the Orthodox Church.

In 1904 a Gothic church was built. Initially, the church was a Catholic church, and now it is the Orthodox Church of St. Andrew. The author of the church was a carpenter named Laufer.

Neighborhood

In the village of Roshchino, near Zelenogradsk, there is the Grunhof palace. It was built in 1701 by the Potsdam architect Christian Elteester under the decree of Friedrich Wilhelm I. A hundred years later, in 1814, the palace was donated to Count Dennetsky for special services to the country.

Initially, the palace was designed in the Baroque style. Later, Renaissance style annexes were added to it. During the Soviet era, the building was used as a dispensary, a shop and a medical center.

On the coast of the Baltic Sea is the Curonian Spit, which connects Zelenogradsk with the Lithuanian city of Klaipeda. The length of the spit is almost 100 kilometers, and its width is 400 meters. On the spit there is a place that attracts tourists - this is the Dancing Forest.

Only pine trees grow in the forest. They were planted in 1961 to fortify the sands of the spit. A few years after planting the trees began to acquire twisted forms. It is not known why this is happening, but the further you go deeper into the forest, the more trees of abnormal and unnatural form. Twisting in a spiral and twisting into rings, they seem to dance.