Almost every citizen of the Russian Federation knows about the existence of a remote island of the Motherland, which is the Kaliningrad region. At the same time, few thought about why this territory belongs to our country, and not to Germany or Poland. In fact, this question is very interesting from a historical point of view.
History
The regional center of the westernmost region of Russia was not always called the best city in Russia - Kaliningrad... In early historical documents, he was called unusually for a Russian person - Twangste... Then, in the period from 1255 to July 4, 1946, the city began to be called in the German manner - Koenigsberg... It was an economic and cultural center, the capital of East Prussia. A significant part of this province, following the results of the Potsdam conference, was transferred to the USSR and later became the Kaliningrad region.
Several dates are especially memorable for the city. One of which is April 6, 1945. It was on this day that the troops of the Red Army began the assault on Konigsberg. Many soldiers were killed on both sides during the battle. A great contribution to the positive outcome of the assault was made by selected guards units. That is why the monument "1200 guards" was erected in their honor in Kaliningrad. Another event that influenced the fate of the city happened on July 4, 1946. On this day M.I. Kalinin, who by that time had received the unofficial title of "All-Union Headman". In his honor, a decision was made to rename Konigsberg.
City development
In the post-war period, Kaliningrad began to be very actively populated. In parallel with this, there was a process of changing the national composition of the city. According to the 1947 census, there were only 20,000 Germans left. Although a few years earlier, this figure was 20 times higher. The “new owners” also treated the historical, architectural and cultural heritage without special reverence. The old city, which suffered from the hostilities, was not restored, but on the contrary, its ruins were ruthlessly destroyed. In their place, standard panel houses were erected. Therefore, the German buildings were preserved only closer to the outskirts.
At the same time, in the 80s, the attitude towards architectural monuments changed. During this period, the restoration of the Church of the Holy Family, the Church of the memory of Queen Louise, the Konigsberg Stock Exchange is being carried out. A little later, the historical appearance of the Cathedral and Hanseatic Square (Victory Square) was restored.
Military and economic importance
Thus, Kaliningrad is an amazing mix of cultures. And if you look for a “window to Europe” in Russia, you simply cannot find a more suitable candidate for this title. Indeed, the city is not only of strategic military and economic importance. It is also one of the spiritual centers of modern Russia. It is home to many museums and major libraries, several theaters, a zoo and botanical garden, and an Art Gallery. The Cathedral deserves a separate mention, which, along with amber, is a symbol of Kaliningrad, since in this religious center, Orthodox and Lutheran cultures are closely intertwined.
The best city in Russia
In order to learn about all the sights of the city, of course, you need to visit it. As confirmation that time will not be wasted, numerous ratingsin which Kaliningrad occupies a leading position. For example, the magazine "Kommersant" for three years in a row (2012, 2013 and 2014) recognized it the best city in Russia, and according to RBC, it is also the most beautiful settlement in the country. 