History Königsberg Castle

overhead view of castle, 1925

the site of castle old prussian fort known tuwangste near pregel river @ important waypoint in prussian territory. nearby 3 prussian villages, later known löbenicht, sackheim, , tragheim. after conquering area in 1255, teutonic knights constructed provisionary wooden , earthworks fort in place of prussian one. 1257, new stone ordensburg castle being constructed. castle enlarged , refortified in several stages between 16th 18th centuries.

the fortress, later designated castle, residence of grandmasters of teutonic order , later residence prussian rulers.

the 1815 encyclopædia britannica refers magnificent palace in hall 83.5 m long , 18 m broad without pillars support it, , handsome library. gothic tower of castle high (100 m) , has 284 steps top, great distance can seen . extensive building, enclosed in large quadrangle , situated in center of city, formerly seat of teutonic order. altered , enlarged 16th 18th centuries. west wing contained schloßkirche, or palace church, frederick crowned in 1701 , william in 1861. arms emblazoned upon walls , columns of members of order of black eagle. above church 83 m long , 18 m high moscowiter-saal, 1 of largest halls in german reich.

until latter part of world war ii, apartments of hohenzollerns , prussia museum (north wing, german: prussia-sammlung) open public daily. among other things, museum accommodated 240,000 exhibits of prussian collection, collection of königsberg state , university library, many paintings artist lovis corinth. in 1926, friedrich lahrs led excavation of castle courtyard. during world war ii, various pieces of captured russian art stored there, possibly including parts of amber room. extensive collection of provincial archives housed there. blutgericht, wine selling tavern, situated within castle. image of hans von sagan used castle s weathervane.

following bombing of königsberg royal air force in second world war in 1944, castle burnt down. however, thick walls able withstand both aerial bombing , soviet artillery, urban fighting in april 1945, allowing ruins of castle stay standing. largely demolished königsberg became part of soviet union , renamed kaliningrad in 1946.

castle ruins in 1950s, seen cathedral island.

kaliningrad rebuilt model town on remains of königsberg, without reminders of german past left standing. leonid brezhnev consequently ordered remains of castle disposed of no longer stand reminder of prussian militarism. despite protests students , intellectuals kaliningrad, ruins of castle blown on brezhnev s personal orders in 1968. however, ruins of nearby königsberg cathedral, included tomb of immanuel kant, left standing, , in late 1990s , years of 21st century rebuilt , restored.