Meet the Middle Ages
BackKaliningrad
Kaliningrad was previously called Königsberg and lies between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic coast. Königsberg was built next to a castle, founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1255. The town was granted a town charter in 1286. During the 14th century it became important to the Hanseatic League. Mainly hop, farm produce and flax was exported from Köningsberg.
In 1457 Königsberg became the residential town of the Teutonic Knights. In 1525 the Prussian duchies took power. The German citizens and the nobility left their mark on the town and its surroundings.
In 1544 the University of Königsberg was founded. The philosopher Immanuel Kant worked here at the end of the 18th century. During World War II the town was almost completely destroyed. After the war it belonged to the Soviet Union and the name of the town was changed to Kaliningrad. It became one of the most important Soviet naval bases.