Zelenogradsk is a resort town on the shores of the Baltic Sea, with a long line of excellent sandy beaches. It is especially valuable because it is located near a unique natural object - the Curonian Spit. Zelenogradsk is especially evident in architecture. The city has many buildings erected in the style traditional for Europe of the nineteenth century.
The unofficial symbol of the city is cats. Their images are found on the walls of houses; figurines in the form of cats are popular in souvenir shops. Even at some traffic lights, instead of a walking person, a running cat with an extended tail is depicted. In honor of the fluffy favorites of the city residents, dozens of sculptures of cats have been installed, there is a museum "Murarium" and an official place for feeding cats - the square "Kotofeynya".
The most interesting and beautiful places in Zelenogradsk
List, photos with names and descriptions of the best sights of the city.
Baltic Sea
Zelenogradsk is one of the most popular resorts on the shores of the Baltic Sea. The sea water temperature can hardly be called comfortable for swimming. The water warms up most of all in August - up to 22 degrees. Walking along the embankment and enjoying the fresh medicinal sea air are considered a pleasant leisure for tourists. People come here for beautiful views of the North Sea and a comfortable climate for relaxation.
Curonian Spit
Popular natural site. It is a long sandy spit where dunes, swamps, sea and unusual "dancing" trees are combined. It is only 5 km from Zelenogradsk to the Curonian Spit. You can visit it both by ordering an excursion, or on your own - by bike, private car and public transport. In the national park of the Curonian Spit, you can stay with a tent, but you should take into account the variability of the Baltic weather.
Recommended: 20 interesting sights of the Curonian Spit.
Zelenograd promenade
The promenade line in Zelenogradsk is about 2 km. It is a wide platform on the shores of the Baltic Sea, below which there is a city beach. The promenade is protected from the wind. It houses fast food kiosks, playgrounds, exercise equipment. Sitting in a cafe, you can admire the sunset and a beautiful view of the sea, breathing in the clean salty air. A pier 150 meters long departs from the promenade to the sea.
Beaches of Zelenogradsk
The beach area runs along the entire coast of the city. The sand, which is pleasant to the touch, has a light color. There are areas where sand is mixed with small pebbles. The entry into the sea is shallow. In the eastern part of the beach area, the sandy strip is narrower, but the tourist infrastructure is better developed here. Vegetation zones appear on the western part of the beach. Sandy areas between trees are called "pans" - they are protected from the wind and warm up perfectly.
Water tower
It is an architectural monument and a symbol of the city. It was built in 1904 in the style of historical eclecticism. Intended to improve the city's water supply. The tower is 40 meters high and is crowned with a kind of dome. It houses a duplex apartment with a gallery balcony. At a height of 24 meters, there is an observation deck with a 360-degree view. Below is the Murarium Cat Museum.
Museum of cats "Murarium"
It opened in 2012, but the museum owners began to collect exhibits for it since 1985. The thematic collection is considered the largest in Russia and includes about 3500 items. The museum showcases display figurines, paintings, dolls, souvenirs and soft toys. They all have a common "cat" direction. The mascot of the museum is a real live kitten. The Murarium displays occupy three floors of the Water Tower.
Pump room "Queen Louise"
Krantz Post Office Building
The red brick building on Kurortny Prospekt was erected at the beginning of the 20th century in the neo-Gothic style and is a cultural heritage site. Until the outbreak of World War II, it housed the telegraph and post office, as well as the office of the postmaster. It is currently occupied by North-West Telecom. The building has practically not changed over 100 years, only the black eagle - the coat of arms of East Prussia - has not survived.
Bas-relief "Map of Zelenogradsk"
Located on a brick wall near the entrance to the Krantz Post Office at the beginning of Turgenev Street. It is a volumetric bas-relief, which schematically shows all the main attractions of the city. The map was made of concrete by the sculptor Vladimir Burylev; the famous local artist Larisa Levina painted it. The uniqueness of the map is that it shows both the old town of Kranz and modern Zelenogradsk.
Kurortny prospect
Pedestrian street in the historical center of the city, 200 meters from the Baltic Sea coast. Among the low two-storey houses - monuments of history and architecture, there are cafes, shops and souvenir shops. Unusual buildings on the avenue - Fisherman's House, Sternfeld Trading House, Kurhaus. Kurortny Prospect runs into the central square of the city, where social events, concerts and celebrations are held.
Sculpture "Gray Baltic seal"
Opened on the Zelenogradsk promenade in 2013. The work of sculptor Valery Kovalev is made of granite. The gray Baltic species of the seal is included in the Red Book, but the monument in Zelenogradsk is dedicated to a specific seal named Rurik. In 2012, a baby seal settled on the beach of the city. He allowed himself to be stroked by vacationers, posed for photo shoots and became a universal city darling. In the fall, the grown seal swam into the sea.
Sculpture "Resort Girl"
Also, the sculpture is often called a monument to a tourist. One of the most popular sculptures in the city is made of fiberglass, imitated in bronze. She is a girl in a short dress walking down the street and taking a selfie. On her suitcase sits one of the symbols of the city - a cat. The sculpture is located on Kurortny Prospekt and in order to be photographed with it, sometimes you have to stand in line.
Zelenogradsk city clock
Located on Kurortny prospect. They were installed in 2017 to replace the old ones that fell into disrepair during the reconstruction of the avenue. The clock, installed on a cast-iron forged pillar, has a weather vane, where the old name of the city is indicated - Cranz. The dial with a diameter of 90 cm is illuminated, white and has Roman numerals. Many urban legends and myths are associated with the main clock of Zelenogradsk.
Transfiguration Cathedral
The religious building was built in 1896. The style of the red brick building is Gothic. Its north tower is 42 meters high. Three bells of the church, melted down during the war, were restored after the war. Initially, the building was consecrated as the Lutheran Church of St. Adalbert, since 2007 it houses the Transfiguration Cathedral. Included in the list of the main attractions of the city.
House of Angels Museum
The museum has a private collection of 1,500 exhibits. It is located in a small but unusual architecture old building on Pogranichnaya Street, which was bought by a private person in 2016. The theme of the museum is angels. The collection of the museum contains toys, design elements and home decorations, sculptures, paintings, souvenirs. There are unique images of "avant-garde angels". An excursion for an organized group is possible.
Church of St. Andrew the First-Called
At the beginning of the 20th century, the church was a small wooden neo-Gothic chapel. During the Soviet period, it survived two violent fires that destroyed the magnificent frescoes. In the 90s, the building underwent reconstruction and is currently a red brick structure built according to Orthodox canons.A free-standing bell tower has been in operation since 2014.
City Park
It is a real green oasis, merging with the pine forest of the Curonian Spit National Park. The entrance from Volodarskogo Street is decorated with a wooden gate; there are stalls with souvenirs and food. The centerpiece of the park is Tortilin Pond. According to local residents, it was in this pond that the wise turtle from the fairy tale about Buratino lived. There is a fountain in the pond, there are children's and volleyball courts in the park.
Queen Louise Square
A small and cozy square was opened in the early 2000s. According to legend, while visiting Krantz (now Zelenogradsk), Friedrich Wilhelm IV planted a tree here, which still grows in the center of the park. The King of Prussia did it in honor of his mother, Louise. There are benches around the commemorative elm tree. A memorial stone and a bust of the queen are installed in the park. The bust is a copy of the famous 19th century work of the sculptor Rauch.
Zelenograd Museum of Local Lore
It is located in a building of the early 20th century with a special architectural value - the Villa Krell. The style of construction is a Russian tower with Gothic elements. The area of all exhibition halls of the museum is 550 m². Its expositions tell about the history of the city - from ancient times to the present. In the museum, you can book a tour of the city's tourist routes, as well as visit the workshops of the Art Podval art association.
Museum of Skulls and Skeletons
Created in 2015. The theme of the museum is not related to anatomy and biology. The museum displays about 700 exhibits of images of skeletons and skulls in different cultures of the world. These are accessories and clothing, interior items, toys and paintings. The expositions in the “biker” section and those related to “black” humor are especially interesting. The museum has a tape labyrinth, a visit to which is included in the ticket price.
Museum of Owls and Owls "FiloSovia"
Exhibition of live birds, as well as an art collection with images of feathered raptors. The exhibits of the collection are statuettes, paintings, household items collected from all over the world. The spacious aviaries of the museum are home to 10 birds. Themed holidays, master classes and educational excursions are held. Within the framework of "live conversations" visitors are introduced to the birds, allowed to participate in their feeding or training.
Monument to Zelenograd cats
Some tourists say that there are more monuments to cats in this city than real cats. Sculptures of cats are installed at the registry office and on the city pier. The most popular and funny monument to Zelenograd cats, over 3 meters high, is installed at the intersection of Pogranichnaya Street and Kurortny Prospect. It depicts a cat sitting on a window sill. The coat of arms of the city is depicted at the base of the monument.
Memorial complex at the mass grave of Soviet soldiers
The monument at the mass grave of Soviet soldiers was erected in 1950. The complex is a rectangular area, where a statue of a warrior with a height of more than 2 meters is installed on a high pedestal. On the sides of the complex there are tombstones with memorial plaques. An eternal flame is located in the center of the site. The complex of austere type is decorated with flower beds and blue spruces. The complex is an urban cultural heritage.
Monument "Border Pillar"
It was installed in 2017 and symbolizes the border of the Russian Federation, because the Kaliningrad region is surrounded on all sides by other countries. Before becoming a symbol, the pillar stood for several decades on the real border of two states - Russia and Lithuania. The post is installed at the intersection of Pogranichnaya and Moskovskaya streets in a small green park. The opening of the monument was attended by veterans of the border services.
Sculpture "Mermaids"
Installed in 2018 on the Zelenogorsk promenade. The sculpture is made of metal and is located in the center of a tiled area. It depicts two mermaids sitting on a cliff with shells in their hands. There is a cafe and playgrounds next to the sculpture. This is a rather lively place, where many people want to take an unusual photo with mermaids. There are other unusual sculptural compositions not far from them.
Square "Kotofeynya"
The official square where you can feed cats on Kurortny Prospekt. The opening of the unusual square was timed to coincide with the birthday of the Zelenograd cat - March 3. The north is a paved area with a sculpture of three cats standing by a fish dish. There are 4 benches around the sculpture. The author of the composition is sculptor Pavel Savelyev. The organizer of the cat feeding process is the social activist Svetlana Logunova.
City center of culture and art
Located in the city center and is one of the main leisure destinations for more than 30,000 citizens of the city. The staff of the center organizes mass social events and celebrations of the city and regional level. In addition to traditional holidays such as New Year or Maslenitsa, the center organizes unusual festivals and celebrations - Fisherman's Day, Sambia Smelt Festival, Orange Pumpkin Day.
Krantz administration building
A red brick building built at the beginning of the 20th century. The Art Nouveau building has an attic, a turret, a clock on the pediment and a roof of lazed tiles. The administration building is an object of cultural and architectural significance, it is included in the list of the main attractions of Zelenogorsk. At different times the burgomaster sat in it, a hydropathic establishment and a workshop for bottling mineral water were located.
Monument to Adam Mitskevich
The monument is dedicated to the Polish poet who visited Zelenogorsk in 1824 on his way to St. Petersburg after his expulsion from Lithuania. The monument was erected in the city garden at the beginning of the Literary Trail. The author of the sculpture project is Valery Kornilov. The idea of erecting the monument belongs to the local historian and head of the city library Natalia Shumilova. Funds for the installation of the monument were allocated by the Ministry of Culture of the region and local patrons.
Friedrich Bast's apartment building
One of the most unusual and interesting buildings in Zelenogorsk. The apartment building was built at the beginning of the 20th century in an unusual Jugendstil style - German Art Nouveau. Has the status of a cultural object of the city. Previously furnished rooms of the building were rented to vacationers as hotel rooms. The building of the former apartment building currently houses a kindergarten, so its facades are decorated with cheerful images.
The building of the hotel "East Prussia"
Built in 1906 and originally the hotel located in it was called Yust. The style of construction is modern, popular in those days. In 1915, there was a severe fire, after which the building needed lengthy repairs. The hotel in the newly opened building was named "East Prussia". In wartime, the premises of this unusual architectural structure housed a hospital, then a district clinic.
The building of the hotel "Kurhaus Kranz"
City architectural monument. Interestingly, from 1821 to the present, this building has been a hotel. The owners of the modern hotel are proud to say that they have managed to preserve the historical setting of the premises. During the major restoration of the hotel, only the partitions, which were in disrepair, were removed. The hotel has 20 comfortable rooms, a restaurant, a jacuzzi and a sauna.
Schaaken castle
Located in the village of Nekrasovo, 18 km from the city. The first wooden fortifications of the castle were built in 1261, they were soon replaced by stone ones. Currently, the walls and premises of the castle are partially destroyed. The surviving rooms contain the Inquisition Museum and the Castle History Museum, as well as the Armory, where you can try on copies of medieval armor. On the lists in the center of the castle courtyard, knightly tournaments are held.
Museum of the Inquisition
Located in the basement of Schaaken Castle.The exposition of the museum consists of the instruments of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages and is a torture chamber - pads with nails, chairs with spikes and leather belts, coffins. To create an ominous atmosphere, they include eerie music in the background, interspersed with a resounding drip of water. The room is dimly lit, and the guide is a man in black clothes with a mask on his face.
Ornithological station "Fringilla"
The station is located on the Curonian Spit, near the village of Rybachy, more than 30 km from Zelenogradsk. In this place, about 300 species of birds stop for a stop during autumn and spring migrations. Birds have been studied at this station since the 19th century. Excursions to the bird station are held from April to October. The route through the station is 0.5 km, it is carried out by specialized ornithologists.
