A tour of Kaliningrad, formerly Königsberg

[Adam Carr]

Postscript: Here are some Youtube videos of prewar Königsberg.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43VLO21GFgU
The Hauptbahnhof, the Dom, the Schloss, the Börse, scenes along the river.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyfNjLR5B3Y
The Schloss, the lakes, the Dom, Kant’s tomb, the Börse, drawbridges on the river, the Wrangelturm, the Nordbahnhof, the Ostmesse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kudjA0xLRE
Film from 1945 immediately after Soviet occupation – fires are still burning. The Wrangelturm, devastation along the river, the Börse with bodies lying in the street, elderly Germans in the ruins, raising the red flag on the Dohnaturm.
This is an interesting article by a Kaliningrad-born Russian writer advocating that Kaliningrad be renamed Königsberg.
http://www.vinokurov.info/assets/files/ ... ergEng.pdf

[Marcus]

Great photo thread as always, thanks.

/Marcus

[pofoka]

Great work! Thank you so much for sharing!

Kind regards!

[Adam Carr]

A pleasure. It's a very sad city but I'm glad I went there.
Next year (in April or May) I'll be going to Poland and the Baltic States to look at all those castles.

[Makarov]

A pleasure. It's a very sad city but I'm glad I went there.

I assume you refer to the Soviet architecture, but beside that it´s a great city and for people like us it´s some kind of heaven, it´s litterary packed with history. Visiting the never finished House of Soviets was a great experience, climbing all the stairs to the roof that offered a great view of the city. Great museums and sites both in the city and outside the city as well. Rauschen (todays Svetlogorsk) at the Baltic coast is a wonderful village that was spared destruction is another must see if you are in the area. Great restaurants with great prices, cheap hotels, cheap transportations and so close to Central Europe.

[pofoka]

A pleasure. It's a very sad city but I'm glad I went there.
Next year (in April or May) I'll be going to Poland and the Baltic States to look at all those castles.

My plan is the same

[Adam Carr]

Makarov, how did you get inside the House of Soviets?

[Makarov]

Makarov, how did you get inside the House of Soviets?

House of Soviets (or the Monster as the local´s call it) is as you know off limit with private guards and barking dogs, but our guide told us that the guard(s) can be bribed for a small amount of money. Unless you don´t speak russian you´ll need someone to write down a note that you would like to see the house. Our guide were kind enough to write down a note and then we went to the "house", knocked on the gate and just after a few seconds a man opened, we handed him the note and for just 300 rubles we were inside. We were not allowed to move around by ourself, the house is not safe. So he leashed his dog and took us up to the roof, but were not allowed to move freely because of the security cameras. Unfortunality he didn´t let us explore the floors more than just a few steps from the stairwells, for good reason, the elevatorshafts is wide open and it´s quiet understandable that they don´t want anyone to fall down. However, our approximately 30 - 40 minutes stay were one of the highlights during our stay in Kaliningrad.

Later this day I will post a few photos from the inside.

[Adam Carr]

When I was there last year there were no guards and no gates. I walked right round it. The whole thing was fenced off, empty and silent. Please do post your photos of the inside.

[Makarov]

I was there in May 2013 and as you say it was fenced off, silent, empty and no guard to be seen from the outside. It was our guide who told us about the guard, but I doubt he is a offical guard, more like a civilian person with a vicious dog hired to keep people like us away.

[Makarov]

Pictures taken in May 2013 inside and from the roof of House of Soviets.

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[Makarov]

Some more Pictures, May 2013.

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The guard and his dog.

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[pofoka]

Makarov! You are the King! Awesome photos. Photos of the year. I give you joy of it!
The next summer, I also find the guard! If no get the push

[Adam Carr]

Excellent photos, thanks.

[Makarov]

Thank you guys for your nice comments, let´s continue.

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WW2 Soviet Navy memorial

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Königsberger Klopse, absolutely delicious

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