Russia has its own island right in the Center of Europe, however, comparable in size to another full-fledged state on the continent. It is, of course, about the Kaliningrad region, in particular, about the capital of this subject of the Russian Federation. Kaliningrad is a city very popular among tourists from other regions of Russia and countries. Many travelers prefer to build the route of their trip around the city, having previously studied the features of its administrative structure, what areas it consists of, as well as what features they are characterized by.
Kaliningrad can also be studied for principles of local self-government, features of the city’s districts in terms of sightseeing or, for example, development of transport infrastructure. What administrative units does Kaliningrad represent? How can citizens of other regions of the Russian Federation get to the Russian Baltic?
General information about the city
Kaliningrad is a unique city. He is Russian, but historically closely connected with Europe. Until 1945, Kaliningrad was called Koenigsberg and belonged to Germany. After that, together with the neighboring lands of East Prussia, the city was transferred to the Soviet Union, and subsequently renamed. The European past and the Russian present are predetermined by the fact that the districts of Kaliningrad, its architecture are characterized by the presence of a variety of objects - Soviet, built in the Russian Federation and, of course, classical, retaining or taking on their appearance from the German past.
Kaliningrad is not a very big city, if you compare it with the largest Russian and European megacities, but there are a lot of attractions in it. These are architectural monuments, cultural objects, a zoo. Some of the most noteworthy attractions are the Botanical Garden. Not only German culture is traced in the city, but also that which was formed under the influence of other nations - Lithuanians, Latvians, Poles. Actually, those states that are formed by these ethnic groups. This does not include Latvia, but it is also close and borders on the Kaliningrad region. In this case, active cultural exchange in the region is a completely natural process.
Kaliningrad: main sights
What sights do tourists who come to the Russian Baltic most often visit? It is rather difficult to unequivocally answer this question. The fact is that travelers may like completely different areas of Kaliningrad. Some tourists like visiting historical sites more, others - modern buildings.
So, many travelers like to just walk, for example, along the banks of the Pregol. If you walk along the bridge that connects them, you can get into the wonderful Fish Village. Its traditional look was reconstructed by modern masters.
Of course, the Amber Museum is one of the most popular places in the city. Moreover, it is actually part of another famous object - the Don tower. Among the most famous enterprises of the city is the Kaliningrad Amber Plant. Visiting a variety of areas, the traveler will be able to meet the places where this mineral is sold, as well as various jewelry from it.
Another famous fortification is the Wrangel Tower. It was built in the 19th century. The botanical garden, which we mentioned above, has been open to tourists since 1904. The Kaliningrad City Zoo has been operating since 1896. A wooden hunting castle was also built in the city at the end of the 19th century. Visiting various areas of Kaliningrad, you can see quite a lot of historical sites.
If we talk about the remarkable modern buildings of the city, it is worth paying attention to the largest shopping centers, such as Europe, Plaza, and also, for example, Epicenter. All of them are located in the city center.
Geography
Let us now examine, in fact, what districts in Kaliningrad there are today, how the administrative division of this settlement is carried out.
The city has 3 districts: Leningradsky, Moskovsky, as well as Central. It is not customary to subdivide them conditionally into less and more prestigious. Note that not all tourists know Kaliningrad well. The “Leninsky district” is among the carelessly invented by them names of Leningradsky, it should be borne in mind. One way or another, all administrative territories form a unique cultural and architectural space and make the city unique.
The Leningrad district of the city of Kaliningrad, Moscow and Central are equally developed. In this case, the most active construction is just on the outskirts of the city. Although, in principle, this trend characterizes most modern Russian cities, since in their central parts basically everything is built up.
Between different areas of Kaliningrad there are a large number of buses and minibuses. However, when planning a move with their help, one should take into account possible delays due to traffic jams. Their appearance in the city is inevitable, because Kaliningrad is among the leaders among Russian cities in terms of motorization, and the width of the streets to ensure dynamic car traffic is not always enough.
Let us now consider what the Central, Moscow, as well as the Leningrad region are individually. Kaliningrad, as we noted above, is a highly developed city, regardless of the specific area, but each of them is characterized by a number of features.
Leningrad district of Kaliningrad: what are its features?
This area is located in the north-east of the city. The main transport arteries that are available here are Moscow and Soviet Avenues. In the Leningrad district there are also Gorky, Nevsky, Chernyakhovsky, Gagarin streets. The Selma area is also located here. Kaliningrad, as we already know, consists of 3 official districts, but microdistricts are also distinguished within them. Among them - Selma.
Another remarkable feature of the geography of the Leningrad district of the city is that it houses villages. Among them - October. The area (Kaliningrad, as we know, previously belonged to Germany) is characterized by the fact that traditional German mansions have been preserved here. They are located on Telman Street, not far from Lake Superior, as well as the Yunost Park. But you can buy modern real estate in the area. It can be both apartment buildings and town houses. The new property, which is located in the Leningrad region, is characterized by a wide variety of design and layout of apartments.
Among the most actively developing microdistricts within the framework of the Leningrad region, we can note those that are located on the streets of Artillery, Gagarin. To some extent, the popularity of these territories is due to the fact that they are among the most accessible from the point of view of transport in the city. Many types of transport pass through the Leningrad region. Kaliningrad is a city of attractions, and many of them are located in this place.
So, a traveler who arrives in the Leningrad region can visit the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Amber Museum. Here are located modern shopping centers - "Clover", "Passage".
Moscow region
The Moscow region of Kaliningrad is also very actively developing. The main streets here: Internatsionalnaya, Gromova, Kosheva. In the area built modern schools, shops. The main problem here is the same traffic jams. They are especially noticeable due to the fact that the exit from the district to the center is via a railway bridge, which is very narrow in itself and, moreover, cannot provide high throughput during heavy traffic due to the location of tram tracks on it. The central part of the city from the Moscow region can be reached by tram or trolleybus. A fairly developed network of minibuses. Although the advanced transport infrastructure as a whole is characterized by the whole of Kaliningrad.
The Moscow district of the city also has many attractions. The most recognizable is the Cathedral, which is located on the island of Kant. The temple is one of the symbols of Kaliningrad. The area has a large number of architectural monuments. It is in the Moscow region that the Fish Village develops, which in architecture matches the style of the former Koenigsberg.
central District
The largest of the three administrative territories into which Kaliningrad is divided is the Central District. Its feature is the presence of a large number of industrial enterprises. Among the largest - Quartz, Baltterm. There is also a fish canning factory, a printing house "Amber Tale".
In the central district of the city you can see a large number of buildings built in Germany. For example, there is a building in which the classrooms of the historical faculty of the Kant University (formerly the Kraus and Hippel schools) are located. The building, which previously had a police department, now houses the FSB. The city business center is housed in a building formerly the North Station. In the central district of the city you can visit the Drama Theater, as well as the zoo.
It is worth noting that the districts of the city of Kaliningrad in their present form have existed relatively recently - since 2009. The fact is that earlier the city was divided not into 3, but into 5 administrative units. Among the previously existing ones was the Baltic region. Kaliningrad is a city that became part of the USSR in 1945, and already in 1947 this region was formed.
In 2009, by a separate decision of the Council of Deputies of Kaliningrad, it was decided to merge it with Moscow. Another district of the city, which previously existed under the name Oktyabrsky, was also formed in 1947. Almost simultaneously with the Baltic, it was combined with the Central. At the same time, another municipality bordered on the Baltic before it underwent the noted changes in its administrative division of Kaliningrad - the Guryevsky District. True, it refers not to the city, but to the region, the capital of which it is.
It can also be noted that the Oktyabrsky district until 1961 was called Stalin. Central, which is noteworthy, was formed later than other areas of the city - in 1952, and part of it was Stalinsky. The remainder of Oktyabrsky (formerly Stalin) also became part of the Central in 2009.
City infrastructure
So, we studied how administratively divided the city districts of Kaliningrad. Now consider other noteworthy information about him, for example, those that reflect the specifics of his infrastructure.
It can be noted that the network of urban roads is developing at an impressive pace in relation to the dynamics of the development of new areas. Significant sections of highways, those that were laid back in Germany, have pebbled cover, which requires a special approach from the city authorities to maintain their functionality.
As we noted above, public transport is very developed in Kaliningrad. In terms of traffic intensity, the city is at the level of the largest Russian cities. Effective operation of the Kaliningrad transport network can be complicated by traffic jams. They become especially large, as in most other modern cities, morning and evening. Regarding the types of public transport that serves various areas of the city of Kaliningrad, it is represented in almost all modern land-based varieties, namely: buses, trolleybuses, trams, minibuses. Gradually, the transport network of the city is also supplemented by rail buses.
Schools
It will also be useful to study what educational institutions are located in the wonderful city of Kaliningrad. The main university in the metropolis is Immanuel Kant University. The Technical University trains specialists of various profiles, for example, competent in the field of fisheries. Other well-known educational institutions of Kaliningrad include the Ushakov Institute, the University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, as well as the Baltic State Academy. Graduates of urban universities are in demand both in their region and beyond. Many Kaliningraders try their hand in Europe due to their geographical proximity with many developed countries.
City Economy
Kaliningrad is a significant industrial and port center. Among the largest enterprises of the city is the Yantar plant, as well as the Car Building Plant. The first enterprise specializes in both military and civilian orders. The second produces a wide range of engineering products in demand in the field of rail transportation. Both enterprises have huge infrastructural and technological capabilities that allow them to implement the most complex projects in those areas in which the plants operate.
Another large industrial enterprise of the city is Lukoil-Kaliningradneft. It carries out oil production, and also produces various types of industrial products, for example, drilling rigs, containers, metal structures.
Perhaps one of the city’s most famous enterprises is the Amber Plant. True, it is located not in the territory of Kaliningrad itself, but in the regional village of Yantarny. It can be noted that this settlement is connected with the region’s capital by a good road, so the distance between it and Kaliningrad, which is about 41 km, is overcome quite quickly. The plant carries out industrial extraction of amber, its processing, produces various jewelry.
We noted above that almost any administrative unit, which Kaliningrad is divided into (Moskovsky District, Leningradsky, Central), has large shopping centers, as well as stores operating in a network format. All of them also play an important role in the economy of Kaliningrad. The largest trading networks of the city are Wester, Victoria, and Europe. Trade is also actively conducted in the markets of Kaliningrad - Central, Baltic, Moscow, Southern, as well as Zakharovsky.
How to get to Kaliningrad?
So, we studied the main areas of Kaliningrad. How can I get to this wonderful city?
The main feature of this settlement, as well as the region of which it is the capital, is that the corresponding region is an exclave of the Russian Federation. That is, it is surrounded by other countries, namely, it borders with Lithuania and Poland.
The easiest way to get to Kaliningrad to a resident of another region of Russia is to fly by plane. Firstly, the duration of a flight from Moscow takes only about 2 hours, from St. Petersburg - even less. Secondly, to visit Kaliningrad by plane, a Russian citizen does not need to issue a passport.
In turn, in order to arrive in the Russian Baltic by bus, train or car, a passport is required. Moreover, it will have to have a visa from Lithuania, Poland or another Schengen state. In turn, if a citizen of Lithuania or Poland travels to Kaliningrad, he will need a Russian visa. It is noteworthy that residents of the Kaliningrad region can apply for a passport for free, that is, without transferring a state fee to the budget. Also, for the residents of the Russian Baltic, there is an opportunity to visit border settlements in Poland without a visa.
It is also worth noting that Russian citizens have the right to apply for a transit visa through Lithuania in a simplified manner. You can get it by contacting the structure at the Russian Railways. A Lithuanian transit visa is issued within 24 hours from the moment of filing the documents and is handed to the passenger directly on the train that enters the territory of Lithuania. Next, we consider the features of its use.
The corresponding visa is a type of transit document issued by the Lithuanian authorities, which can be obtained by citizens of the Russian Federation who are registered in the Kaliningrad Region. What is its specificity?
This permissive document is of 2 varieties - ordinary simplified, as well as railway. The first allows a citizen of the Russian Federation to enter Lithuania by any means of transport, use any roads, get out of his car if he rides on it. But a person must have time to cross the territory of Lithuania and enter Russia or Belarus within 24 hours. In order to get the document in question, you need to contact the Consulate of Lithuania. Its validity is up to 3 years. When applying for a transit document, a consular fee is paid.
The second document - this is the transit visa, which we mentioned above. It allows a citizen of the Russian Federation to cross the territory of Lithuania only by train. Moreover, the document does not allow a person to get out of the car while they are within the borders of this state. Its validity is up to 3 months (with the expectation of a return trip of a citizen of the Russian Federation within this period). The corresponding document is ordered at the railway ticket office. It is issued free of charge.
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