Kaliningrad, a European city, boasts a historical center starting with the island of Kant and its 14th century Cathedral. The island, previously known as Kneiphof, can be accessed by passing through the Blessing Village neighborhood. Although the buildings have been rebuilt, they still give a glimpse of pre-war housing in the area. Daily mini-concerts featuring organ music are held at the Cathedral, which also houses the only two-organ complex in the country, one of which is the largest in Russia.
“Four keyboards for the hands, a pedal one for the feet, 122 registers, 8525 pipes from 10.5 meters to the smallest pipe of 11 millimeters, i.e. from infrasound to ultrasound, from the voice of a whale to the voice of a bat. You will never hear something like this anywhere in Russia. Especially in the cathedral, which has acoustics with the reverberation of 7 seconds, which is the maximum if we speak about all the country’s concert halls,” Evgeny Avramenko, organist at the Kaliningrad Cathedral said.
In addition to the Cathedral, visitors can also pay a visit to the monument to Duke Albrecht, the founder of Königsberg University, and the grave site of the great 18th century philosopher Immanuel Kant. On the way out, be sure to take a picture of the bronze figurines of fabulous characters called homlins on the Honey Bridge.
The Amber Museum, located in an old fortress tower, is another must-see attraction in Kaliningrad, as it holds a vast collection of rare exhibits such as the “Heart of a Giant” and a unique Carl Faberge cigarette case, according to Marina Kuznetsova, information officer of the Amber Museum. “It is the name of the largest amber piece in Russia, weighing 4 kilograms 280 grams. You can try to process amber via an old machine in the basement and smell the aroma of resin during polishing,” Kuznetsova says. Visitors can also try their hand at processing amber through the machine in the basement. The museum receives over 200,000 visitors annually.
Another attraction worth visiting while in the westernmost region of the country is the resort town of Zelenogradsk, located about 30 minutes from Kaliningrad. The town offers a European vibe and beautiful beaches, as well as activities such as riding a 45-meter Ferris wheel, cycling or electric car riding along the cycle path on the embankment, walking along Kurortny Prospekt and admiring historical buildings, and petting the city’s pet owners.
TR