Kaliningrad car rental “MAXRENT” in the summer of 2022 developed routes in different directions of the region and drove its own cars through all cities and towns.
On the way, the guys stopped in the most interesting places, admired the unique nature of the region photographed numerous sights. They shared their destinations and photos on avtoprokat-maxrent.ru. The material will be of interest not only to tourists, but also to residents of the region. Let's see how it was.
Polessk (Labiau)
Of course, travelers are primarily interested in monuments of the historical past. Their brightest representative is Labiau Castle, built in 1277. Many castles on the territory of East Prussia were rebuilt, as they suffered as a result of raids, fires and wars. Labiau has been preserved in its original form, it has never even been restored.
The surviving premises are rented out, so in the castle built by the Teutonic Knights, you can easily visit a manicurist or a hairdresser. Restoration of Labiau is planned in the near future.
Eagle Bridge is a visiting card of Polessk. Built across the Deima River in 1922. Two technical towers are located on the sides of the central drawbridge, one of them has a bas-relief of an eagle. During the war, the bridge was damaged, but after that it was restored, including the adjustable mechanisms.
Water towers began to appear in East Prussia at the beginning of the 20th century, each of them is not just a technological structure, but a whole work of art. The 31 meter high water tower of Labiau was built in 1908 and is well preserved, including the spire on the roof.
Domnovo (Domnau)
Now less than a thousand people live in Domnovo. This is a small village with a rich past dating back to the 14th century. Entire streets with a cobbled road and German residential buildings of pre-war construction are still well preserved. When you get to Domnovo, you seem to be transported to a quiet Prussian town of the early twentieth century.
If you are a lover of provincial Europe, you should definitely stop by here. But consider the features of the road surface. The paving stones look very attractive, but in order to drive on it, you need to have a skill or choose a car with the appropriate characteristics. The “MAXRENT” team chose a Toyota Camry for this trip, and they passed the paving stones smoothly and silently.
The Domnau Lutheran Church, built in the 14th century, has been perfectly preserved to this day. There are many rumors about the cellars of the church, which allegedly lead to different parts of the village. According to legend, excavations were even carried out in them, they were looking for the Amber Room. But, apparently, they did not find it. Now it will not be possible to get into the cellars due to the risk of collapse, but you can get into the church itself with an excursion group.
An old clock has been restored on the tower of the Domnau church, bas-reliefs and wall paintings have been preserved inside.
Zheleznodorozhny (Gerdauen)
The fortress on the site of the village of Zheleznodorozhny was built in 1251, its ruins have been preserved: a carriage house, parts of the walls, a fortress wall and, in part, a moat around it, an entrance gate, stone steps and a paved road leading to the castle. Despite the strong destruction, many tourists come to the castle of Gerdauen. The places here are literally saturated with the spirit of the Middle Ages.
The building of the district administration of Gerdauen, the Kreishaus, built in 1905, is well preserved. After the war, a school settled in the building, then an orphanage. The Kreishaus building is being prepared for restoration. Nearby, German paving stones break through modern asphalt. kaliningradskoj-oblasti-6b0fbf9.jpg” alt=”What to see for a tourist on a rented car in the Kaliningrad region” />
The settlement was badly damaged during the war, the restoration of historical buildings is still ongoing. Zheleznodorozhny is considered the best example of a restored city in Russia. You can see entire streets of residential houses in the form in which they were before the war, although there are also enough destroyed and dilapidated buildings.
The village is small, but sights are found almost at every step: Gerdauen's church, a brewery , mill and mill pond, bus station building. Impressive is the Museum of Gramophones, which houses a cozy cafe. Residents of the post-war city brought gramophones found in basements and attics here.
Traveling by car along Zheleznodorozhny is not very convenient, so to save time, we recommend using an electric scooter, as the guys from “MAXRENT” did. It can also be rented at a car rental.
Znamensk (Velau)
The history of the village begins at the beginning of the 13th century, when a “water fortress”, Velau, was erected in its place. The city at the beginning of the 19th century belonged to the French, Napoleon I repeatedly visited here. During the war years, a German unit was stationed in Velau, whose task was to prepare an attack on the USSR. the Pregolya River, more than 300 meters long. The bridge was built in 1880. The footage of the feature film “It was the month of May” was filmed on this bridge.
St. Jacob's Church was built in 1336, more than once it saved the population from raids. In the 15th century, during a long siege of the city, the population of Velau hid in the church. Kirkha is gradually being restored, the entrance to it is now closed, but on weekends and holidays, theatrical performances and concerts are held on the territory. On the church you can see the nests of storks. These birds are considered the unspoken symbol of the Kaliningrad region.
Not far from Znamensk there is a waterfall on the Lava River, a special place for the inhabitants of the Kaliningrad region, who are not spoiled by such natural phenomena. However, this waterfall is also not natural, it is the remains of a destroyed water intake dam. Nearby there is a station where you can rent a kayak for rafting on the river or take a ride on the “Lavakhod”, a water bus.
Of course, this is not a complete list of cities in the Kaliningrad region with a rich history and sights for every taste – from medieval churches and castles to fundamental monuments of the German past (hangars, forts, locks) and modern architectural delights (Yantar Hall, a panoramic elevator in Svetlogorsk, temples and churches, a stadium). The Amber Region is not so big, if you wish, you can go around it in 10 days.
To travel faster and more conveniently by your own car. And for those who do not have it, we advise you to rent it. This is about one bus tour at a cost, but you can visit more attractions without limiting the time you stay where you like.
