Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad is a unique and exciting part of Russia. Surrounded by EU countries and cut-off completely from the rest of the Russian State it is somewhat of a curiosity for visitors. Undoubtedly there is Western influence, but at its heart is an unshakable Russian culture that remains strong and dominant. Until 1945 known by its German name Konigsberg, but after Germany's defeat Russian troops took the city and gave it a Soviet name. The name comes from one of Stalin's henchmen 'Kalinin' and a statue of him still stands tall outside the main train station. It is a seaport and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea. Prussian scientists, poets and artists glorified Konigsberg all over the world: Kant, Bessel, Hoffmann, Agnes Miegel - all these names don't need to be presented.
