"From Immanuel Kant to Nikolai Kalinin" Kaliningrad by lotharlerch

Kaliningrad Travel Guide: 108 reviews and 260 photos

Here was the Koenigsberger Schloss - Kaliningrad

Seven Centuries German, 60 Years Russian

From Kant to Kalinin - this marks the decay of a city and a region which once was among the pearls of Germany, even not very much destroyed under WW2, at least far less than much of all Germany west from it which could be reached much more easily by the Allied bombers. And after 1945 Northern
Ostpreussen with former Koenigsberg was the best hidden place of Europe, not even accessible for normal Soviet citizens. And when I had the chance to see it shortly in 1993 I immediately understood why - they simply did not want to show the world what they succeeded to make of this once so nice country.

This year Koenigsberg could have celebrated its 750 years jubilee - and there are attempts even to celebrate that in Kaliningrad. Only old Soviet hardliners object but I go with them. There is no legitimation to celebrate anything here except maybe "60 years Kaliningrad" by those who hold it occupied now. It is likewise pervert to rename the Kaliningrad University "Albertina". And I found it not even a good idea that Germany paid for the reconstruction of the cathedral. If the epigones of the Soviet Union want the cathedral - or even the Schloss they should pay for it themselves.

From Off Limits to Enclave

Roadsign "Kaliningrad"

Soviet Epigons surrounded by the EU

This run down territory around its run down centre Kaliningrad was inaccessible from 1945 until to the collapse of the Soviet Union but its actual situation is also a bit inconvenient, mildly spoken. First it was separated from its stepmotherland Russia by Lithuania and Poland but both countries did not require visa for Russian citizens and vice versa. Then visa were required for all Russians except for residents of Kaliningradskaya oblast and the transit through Lithuania still was visa free. But since Poland and Lithuania are EU members normal EU visa standards are valid and the Schengen visa regime is applied. Russia claims transit privileges, even a corridor through EU territory (was not the "corridor" to Danzig/Gdansk one of the reasons to start WW 2??) to its enclave. They explain it with the much higher cost to reach the territory from Russia over the Baltic Sea. But sea transport was always cheaper than transport overland – a nice example for that are the rates of the ferries connecting Sweden and Finland.

Of course there are attempts to make the region more attractive giving it the status of a free-trade-zone but it did not really show any significant effects so far. But the enclave situation created wild rumours, for example that Germany would try to buy this territory from Russsia but it is quite unimaginable that there is any decision maker in Germany so stupid to seriously consider such an option, not even for only one symbolic Euro or Rouble.

Pros and Cons

Pros:None
Cons:no cons, it is OK that it is and as it is and it should stay like that
In a nutshell:An instructive example for the civilisatory differences between Russia and Germany

Last visit to Kaliningrad: Aug 1993
Intro Updated Mar 25, 2008
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Reviews (12)

Here not painted by Germans - Kaliningrad

Sovjet Neonazis Warnings Or Dangers (1)

Swastikas as here at the traffic sign can be found here but they are not painted by the German nostalgy tourists... The... more travel advice

nicely decorated picnic place - Kaliningrad

The Southern Couronian Spit Off The Beaten Path (2)

The wonderful landscape is quite the same as in the Northern (Lithuanian) part but you do not find such nicely kept... more travel advice

Oberteich Things to Do (8)

Here you can still have the illusion to be in the old Koenigsberg, more travel advice

WW2 bomb ruins Things to Do (8)

In 1993 still bomb ruins from WW2 like at this picture could be found in the centre, you see still the old German... more travel advice

Favorites (1)
Both untouched and ruined

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Comments (9)

om_212 Feb 28, 2008 at 5:06 AM Report Abuse

nice page, Lothar. always wanted to see Kenigsberg and see what Russians did to in for 60+ years. I am thinking about going to Couronian Spit with a group of friends may be in June.
Ovelikios Dec 29, 2007 at 1:59 PM Report Abuse

are there any similar places today? Or everything is renovated now? I would die to see with my own eyes such places. So, are they still there?
ChuckG Oct 30, 2006 at 12:11 AM Report Abuse

Very interesting part of Europe. That Soviet building is very impressive...
globetrott May 15, 2005 at 11:47 PM Report Abuse

an interesting page, Lothar ! Immanuel Kant saving the cathedral posthumous - Kalliningrad would have needed a lot more such "guarding angels"
PeteNL May 5, 2005 at 2:38 AM Report Abuse

Hey Lothar, good to see you're busy on the Kaliningrad pages now! Some great pics and tips so far! Still haven't found time for ours, but will let you know when we're on it!
aroundtheglobe Apr 18, 2005 at 2:52 AM Report Abuse

true....Kaliningrad is ugly.....but that's what addicts me in some ways. Still I think that the coastline is beautiful aswell as the inland with the wild nature and the storks!
OlafS Feb 19, 2005 at 7:48 AM Report Abuse

Good start, I hope you will add more text. The city celebrates its 750th birthday this Summer, and there are plans to finally restore some of the old buildings and gates.
Thoomuch Feb 8, 2005 at 6:00 AM Report Abuse

Intresting but also tragic history to destroy such a beatuful place
Leipzig Jan 19, 2005 at 4:48 AM Report Abuse

Hatte mich erst geärgert, kein Visum für Kaliningrad bekommen zu haben - aber anscheinend habe ich gar nicht viel verpasst