What to see

The Curonian Spit is a long, narrow sandy strip of land that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. It stretches from the city of Zelenogradsk in the Kaliningrad region to the Lithuanian city of Klaipeda.

The natural uniqueness of the territory of the national park is that it is the largest sand spit in the world. The length of the spit is 98 kilometers, the width varies from 400 meters (in the area settlement of Lesnoy) to 3.8 kilometers (in the area of ​​Cape Bulvike, just north of Nida).

The Curonian Spit National Park was created by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR dated November 6, 1987 No. 423 on the southern half of the spit, which, according to administrative division, belongs to the Zelenogradsky District of the Kaliningrad Region of the RSFSR. This is one of the oldest national parks in the country .

Currently, the Curonian Spit is dominated by sand and forests. Eight small settlements near the Curonian Lagoon (three on the Russian side and five on the Lithuanian side) make up only 6% of the entire area of ​​the spit.

The most mysterious landmark of the Curonian Spit – the Dancing Forest – is located on its 37th kilometer, between the village of Rybachy (former Rossiten) and the tourist route “Height of Efa”. The mentioned forest was planted on the slopes and the top of the Round Dune (German: Runderberg) in 1961 to strengthen its sands. Since the middle of the last century, the forest has grown and turned into one of the most mysterious and inexplicable natural phenomena of our country.

One of the most interesting sights of Zelenogradsk is the Water Tower, located in the very center of the city. During its existence, this architectural monument has been repeatedly restored and rebuilt, which, of course, affected its final appearance. in the form.

The monumental building, the height of which is 40 meters, became a real decoration of the provincial city in 1905. It was during this period that the first water supply system was laid on the territory of Zelenogradsk.

At the beginning of the 20th century it was impossible It is impossible to imagine a single city within whose boundaries a water tower would not be installed. After all, this is not only a particularly important structure from the functional and life-supporting side, but also the main city symbol, as well as an excellent watchtower. That is why it was decided to build such a masterpiece on territory of Zelenogradsk. The structure was built in an eclectic style, which made it interesting and fascinating.

A new stage in the history of the Water Tower began only in 2006. However, the reconstruction of the landmark was accompanied by the complete destruction of the upper element of the structure, which acted as a storage tank. The dome was seriously tilted, there was a threat of collapse, so the building was declared unsafe and dangerous to life.

The restoration of the key building of Zelenogradsk was carried out at the expense of the owner of this building. Despite the fact that the facade of the tower was completely restored, and the dome restored, the stucco decoration, which was a distinctive feature of this structure, was lost forever. The octagonal white base was re-strengthened, which guarantees a long service life of the Water Tower.

Today, the former storage tank serves as an excellent observation deck, to which Tourists are transported by a comfortable elevator.

The church community of Kranz was formed in 1877. The church of St. Adalbert was founded on August 23, 1896, and was solemnly consecrated on November 5, 1897. The building was erected in the Gothic style from brick, with a 42 m high tower on the north side and an altar on the south. A pastor’s house was built to the east of the church. The church had an organ made by master Terletsky and three bells, which were melted down for the needs of the front during the First World War, and after the end of the war were cast with donations from the Kranz and Adolf von Batotsky community.

The church was not damaged during the fighting of the Second World War, and in the post-war years it was used as a sports hall and a warehouse.

By Resolution of the Government of the Kaliningrad Region dated March 23, 2007, No. 132, the church received the status of a cultural heritage site of regional significance.

Initially, the embankment consisted of narrow paths and small buildings along the Baltic Sea, which were made of wood. At the present stage, there is no trace left of the past. Now, instead of small paths, a wide a cobblestone embankment rising above sea level, equipped with chrome railings placed for the safety of vacationers. Comfortable double benches are provided for relaxation, from which an incredibly picturesque view opens up.

On the Zelenograd embankment there is a pier that goes far out to sea. The extreme point of the pier is located 150 meters from the coastal zone. The pier is a narrow platform, which is fixed on concrete columns. The entire length of the pier is equipped with laminated glass railings.

In 2006, another landmark appeared on the Zelenogradsk embankment – ​​the “Queen Louise” pump room – this is the source of Zelenograd mineral water, which is extracted from a depth of 240 meters (from a unique underground reservoir, formed about 160 million years ago).

The eastern part of the promenade of the city of Zelenogradsk ends with a whole galaxy of small summer cafes and restaurants, but the main pearl of gastronomy is located not far from the western part of the embankment – the restaurant “Zelenogradsk”.