The former palmniken, which has become amber. The main attractions of Yantarny (Kaliningrad region)

The phrase “Relax in Russia, not abroad” may sound banal. But it is the Baltic Sea with its wonderful towns that proves this thesis in the best possible way. Today, there are quite a lot of geographical points on the coast of this sea that are interesting for tourists. Among them is the city Amber occupies a special place.

This city is not only interesting, it is unique. After all, it is here that the world's only amber mining and processing complex is located. But you should know that the Amber Factory here is just one of the many attractions.

Along with many other cities of the Kaliningrad region, Yantarny was also once German city. His name then sounded no less beautiful, Palmnicken. Despite the fact that this is a very small settlement, it is quite old and has more than 700 years. The root of the name of this city can be translated as “empty lands”. It is not surprising, in ancient times there was nothing here. Some wet swamps. But since the 17th century, amber has been mined here quite actively. There has always been a lot of it here. Rich deposits of amber attracted various merchants and landowners here. The territory of Palmniken changed hands several times.

Among the most famous people who caressed this area with their attention are the Elector Georg Wilhelm, as well as King Frederick I. However, Palmniken's success story dates back to 1870. When the land available here is redeemed by Mr. Maurice Becker. He became the owner of not only the local castle, but also huge deposits of amber. Becker began his activities in the new place by completely demolishing the old castle and rebuilding a beautiful new mansion. Around his new home, Becker laid out a powerful park with an area of ​​more than twelve hectares. This park exists to this day under the name Becker Park. It is full of rare and unique samples of trees, flowers.

In a short time, the most modern amber mines from the point of view of that time appeared here. Which was mined here on an industrial scale. One of these mines, which received the touching name "Anna", is mentioned in the legends of these places to this day. Ten years after Becker came to these places, Palmniken (Yantarny) becomes a busy industrial town. And here it even appears railroad station. The heritage of the Becker family and his business partners is preserved in the annals with all the respect of historians.

Becker's house subsequently became the property of Prussia. And at the beginning of the 19th century, the building was used as a local hotel. We came here for the wonderful climate, the sun, the warm sea and the interesting flora of the park. The mansion had already received its name. "Schloss" hotel. Or, translated into Russian, “Hotel in the castle”. If you come to Yantarny today, you will see this building with the same name on its historical place. Now it is an elite hotel with all amenities. It is often visited by foreigners one by one and by entire delegations. The hotel has been repeatedly restored and remodeled. Seeing this majestic white shining building with columns, know that Becker himself once lived and worked here.

Becker's firm sold the Anna mine to the state in the 19th century. Around the same time, another local landmark appeared in the city, evangelical church. in which it is located today Orthodox church. Already at that time, it became clear that the methods of extracting amber had lost their profitability. And after reaching its peak of more than 400 tons per year, production began to slow down. Literally in ten years, the Anna mine was closed. And the industrialists switched to the extraction of amber using the open method. Then a famous quarry called "Walter" appeared in Palmniken. To date, the quarry belongs to the objects of a semi-closed type. You can walk around and see the surroundings. But at the same time, there is a guard that can prohibit you from visiting certain corners. Locals say that the quarry is guarded quite strictly.

The appearance of another local landmark is associated with the tragic events of 1945. Near the Anna mine, almost 5,000 people were killed here. The prisoners, who were driven on foot for a long time from various camps in East Prussia, were shot in the vicinity of the city. Several thousand people died during the crossing. Others were killed on the coast and randomly buried in various places. Some of these people were placed in the mines, after which they were blown up. The Jewish community of Kaliningrad insisted on creating a monument dedicated to this terrible historical event.

Palmniken in fact became Soviet city back on April 15, 1945, when Soviet troops completely occupied this area. But only in 1946 it received its current name - Amber. The USSR repeatedly tried to restore powerful volumes of local amber mining. This started already in 1948. Since the launch of the amber plant, its capacity has been gradually increased. And it was possible to reach more than six hundred tons of amber per year. Along with mining, local production made it possible to process and create unique products from amber. After the plant fell victim to privatization schemes and a redistribution of the market in 2000, it is restoring its former capacity. Today he works. Moreover, on some days any tourist can get inside the plant. Tickets for such excursions are sold nearby, in a store of ready-made amber products. The only “but” is that it is forbidden to take photos and videos on the territory of the plant.

They say that in the entire Kaliningrad region there is nowhere else such a huge sandy beach. The distance from the water to the shore is quite large. And you will have to go through the park to the water on the purest sand. Which is continuously cleared of debris and constantly transported by trucks. To visit the beach, it is better to choose a sunny bright day. It was then that the special atmosphere of these places was noticeable, which conquered Becker himself at one time. The design of the beach continues to work today. Not so long ago, local architects built a “promenade”. This is a very long sidewalk. coastline. Great place to walk while looking at the sea. Walking on fine sand is not for everyone. And the promenade in this regard is a great way to spend time on the beach.

You will probably want to get some pieces of amber as a memento of your visit to this city. And here a problem may arise. As such, you will not be able to find amber for free in the city. The myth that amber is lying around here is nothing more than a myth. Near the city, everything has long been picked up. The quarry itself, where mining is carried out, is closed to tourists. Therefore, amber can be obtained in two ways. The first is to buy an excursion to the Amber Factory. It runs once an hour. And includes a visit to a kind of sandbox with pieces of amber. Tourists are allowed to pick up such pieces as a keepsake. The second way to find amber is to buy it. But not in expensive stores. On the squares and streets there are small points where local affordable price sell pieces of amber and products from it. The prices of such hawkers are an order of magnitude lower than the store ones.

Separately, it is worth considering such a landmark of the city as Amber Castle. This place is concentrated great amount interesting. First, it's a museum. Here you can look at the history of the Vikings who lived here long ago. Various expositions dedicated to the pre-war history of Palmniken, the Second World War are widely represented. A large part of the exhibition diversity is represented by the Soviet era. The castle itself consists of three floors. Each of which will take you at least 40 minutes. These are also basements, in which there are real torture chambers and cells for prisoners of great age. And two above-ground floors, where there are also a lot of interesting things for the eyes and ears.

On the first floor of the Amber Castle there are a lot of exhibitions of a museum nature and shops selling amber jewelry. On the second floor, you can see the process of processing amber in action. And it's pretty cheap to buy stuff there. There is also amber in its medicinal form: tinctures, powders, oils. Here you can get advice about the therapeutic purposes of using amber.

In the city, you are unlikely to get lost. There are signs on almost every corner to help you get an idea of ​​where you should go. The very structure of the city, sooner or later, will always lead you to the seashore. In addition, you can always ask the friendly people for directions. local residents. Sometimes they are even ready to take you where you need to go.

A couple of words about how to get to Yantarny. The easiest of them is to take a bus from the North Station of the city of Kaliningrad. If you choose a regular bus, then you will have to go for more than an hour. There are also minibuses that pick up people in groups and depart along the same route. Both buses and minibuses run at intervals of once an hour from morning to seven or eight o'clock in the evening. A ticket from Kaliningrad to Yantarny (and back) usually costs no more than 70 rubles. Of course, you can take a taxi. But then the trip will cost you much more, ten to fifteen times. The duration of the journey can be very decent if you get into traffic jams, for example, during rush hour.

The town of Yantarny on the shores of the Baltic Sea is a wonderful place. Here you can spend a day or two in peace and quiet. If you come here in late July - early August, then nothing can be better as a resort. Bright sun, warm sea, fresh greenery of local forests and parks. Cleanliness and tranquility make Amber one of the most promising resort towns Kaliningrad region. The locals fish here and you can join them too. The abundance of hotels, hotels and guest houses will provide you with comfort and a wonderful mood. I would like to end this publication with the same message that we started with. Why have a rest abroad if we have such wonderful places in Russia?

The history of the village of Yantarny on the coast of the Baltic Sea, of course, is closely connected with amber. Looking ahead, we can say that the village owes its existence to the amber industry.

It is small, but there are enough sights in it.

The settlement gained world fame thanks to the amber deposit, industrial-scale mining and a plant for its processing. Since 2004 it has been the administrative center municipality"Yantarny urban district". To date, this town (and many do not call it otherwise) with a population of just over 5.5 thousand people is one of the most comfortable and beautiful. And in the last decade, it has been actively restored and developed, transforming right before our eyes. Although the historical appearance of the village is preserved thanks to the water tower, the pedestrian stone bridge, the preserved buildings of 3 former bakeries and old houses that remember the events of the past. In addition, Yantarny attracts with cozy houses immersed in the greenery of the streets, and local attractions. Here you can have a great rest, improve your health and along the way, if you don’t see it during the tour, then at least learn a lot of interesting things.


Amber, scattered along the coast, even during the time of the crusaders who captured Prussia, was declared the property of the Order. And according to the "amber laws" at the beginning of the 13th century, those caught in the collection and concealment of the found were severely punished by the authorities. Punishments, depending on the amount of damage inflicted to the order treasury, varied from small fines to public flogging, torture, imprisonment in prison casemates of the amber department and even execution (by the way, Galgenberg - the mountain of gallows still exists today).


But not everyone was scared away by the bleak prospect of ending their days with exemplary hanging on the gallows. Having mentioned the next companion, the most desperate, suitably dressed, time after time went to their criminal trade. And they mined a valuable stone either with nets in the coastal zone along with seaweed, or they loosened the bottom with hooks, or they picked it out with “scratches” from clay. They hunted even at night, believing that decorations made from "night" amber were amulets from street thieves and road troubles. After all, sometimes the sea (especially after a storm) made it possible to break a considerable jackpot for all the "prospectors", legal miners and smugglers.

In the documents, the first mention of the settlement dates back to ancient times. In 1389, it was listed as Palveniken (ancient Prussian Palweniken), that is, "wasteland, swampy land or treeless swamp." By 1491, the name was transformed into Palmenicken, and some time later, the German name Palmnicken (German Palmnicken) was firmly established behind the village of 4 yards, the official date of "birth" of which is 1654.
The settlement received a powerful impetus for development at the end of the 19th century. Over time, it merged with Krakstepellen (Kraxtepellen), located a little to the north, and by 1833 had already turned into an estate with a population of 123 people in the district. Further more, in 1919 over 1.5 thousand people already lived here. So a small fishing village, together with neighboring settlements, gradually turned into a large community.

Significant transformation began here when Maurice Becker, a native of Danzig, who earned his start-up capital from trading, entered into a share with the owner of an inn in Memel, Wilhelm Shtantin. First, the shipowner and the merchant opened a company for the extraction of amber "Shtantin und Becker". The mines began to generate income until the reserves ran out. So, in search of new deposits, the owners appeared in Palmniken and, having bought the estate from the ruined Baron Goltz, founded the mine. And the government, on May 20, 1875, officially allowing the extraction of amber in an industrial way, gave the village new opportunities for development.
Later, having become the sole owner of the company, Becker began to buy up land around the village, but his expansion was beneficial, he gave people work, and the poor little by little made up, albeit small, but their own capital. Among the miners in the mines there were even Russian subjects who came to work. In fact, from the mines "Anna" and "Henrietta" (1883), where amber began to be mined in an advanced way, that is, "mine and quarry", even railway from Fischhausen (now Primorsk) they laid, and divers were attracted to mining from the sea, and a completely respectable story began for the village.

The Anna mine was considered the most productive, especially when manual labor was replaced by steam-powered dredgers. True, "Henrietta" was quickly closed due to unprofitability, but "Anna" lasted a long time (it was mothballed in 1922, and closed in 1931). The state bought it in 1899 for 9.7 million marks. By that time, the "Walter" quarry had been mastered - the predecessor of the current Kaliningrad Amber Combine, where the "sun stone" was mined in an open way until the 70s of the last century, until its reserves ran out.
In 1926, the amber quarry and the processing plant in Palmniken became part of the State Amber Manufactory. Of course, not only the jewelry business flourished, the production of haberdashery, succinic acid, amber oil and melted amber was launched. In Prussia, it was considered a "truly German stone", therefore, from July 1933, Amber Days began to be held in Palmniken with noisy festivities and colorful processions.
The manufactory formally existed until 1945, although already at the beginning of the war, production was practically curtailed, and its workshops were converted for the production of military products. During the war years, the village itself was not particularly damaged, but the damage to the amber industry, despite the interest of the Gauleiter of East Prussia Erich Koch in preserving the mines and quarries, was significant, and during the retreat of the Germans, the quarries, along with mining equipment, were flooded.

Sad events are connected with the former Anna mine. The Nazis drove prisoners from nearby concentration camps to these parts, and in order to prevent their release by the Soviet troops, they decided to destroy the Jewish prisoners. On January 15, 1945, under the escort of the SS and policemen, a multi-kilometer "death march" began. Hungry, maimed, almost naked people fell, they were finished off on the spot. Thousands died along the way, those who reached Palmniken were herded into the workshop. Even at such a time, there were people among the Germans who managed to collect and transfer potatoes and bread to the prisoners. The director of the enterprise Landman and the manager of the estates Fayerabend publicly opposed the destruction of those sentenced to death. The protest did not give anything, but it was, and these people deserve respect for their deed.
On the night of January 31 to February 1, 1945, the Nazis shot, according to various sources, from 2 to 4.5 thousand people who remained from a column of many thousands. Taking people to the icy shore (supposedly for transportation by sea to Germany) and cutting them off in groups, they were shot with automatic and machine-gun bursts. The seashore was strewn with piles of bodies. Only a few, who fled under the cover of night, survived that massacre.
According to museum staff, a burial ground was found near Palmniken with the remains of 300 people, with the Star of David on the clothes of one of them. But whether all those executed were Jews is unknown.
According to another version, the prisoners were blown up in abandoned adits. A lot of dark spots still remain in history, but since 2002, memorial events have been held every year in memory of the victims of the Holocaust at the site of the tragedy of the Second World War. And in 2010, near the observation deck near the Anna mine, opposite the former shaft, an obelisk was erected, a monument to the victims of those events - “Three hands that shot up into the sky”, like desperate cries for help.

Another trace of the mine "Anna" in the history of the twentieth century - hidden in its bowels the Amber Room(or some treasure with the works of old masters is unknown). There is a version that at the end of the war, boxes were brought here by trucks, during the unloading there was a cordon, they shot without warning at everything that moves. But anything can be there, because the adits and drifts (which are now under the village) were not studied, and the German plans for their location have not been preserved.

The memory of those who died in the First world war also not erased from the pages of history, on a huge stone near the road to the station there are bronze tablets with their names.

The settlement was cleared from the enemy by the Soviet troops on 04/15/1945, after which a new round in its fate begins. Palmniken after the war went to the USSR and 06/17/1947 was renamed Yantarny. And on 07/25/1947 he was awarded the status of a "working village". Since 1948, its main production, where most of the workforce were prisoners, resumed again. Only since 1953, plant No. 9 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR began to be called the now familiar name "Kaliningrad Amber Plant". His first products even got to VDNKh, and after 2 years to international exhibitions abroad.
The plant either prospered or was declared bankrupt. This area contains approximately 90% of the world's amber reserves, which, according to experts, are about 60 million years old. Replacing worn out funds improved the picture. And jewelry production is now on a grand scale.

The plant with a full cycle of extraction and processing of "solar stone" is the only one in the world. It is not surprising that acquaintance with the village begins with it, right from the observation deck overlooking the quarry, where the Baltic "gold" is being mined.


There is a museum and the Amber Pyramid.





Those who wish can even stay a few minutes as "prospectors". What if you get lucky?

Careers under M. Becker were actively developed, and production annually brought a solid income to the company, so the industrialist could also be a patron of the arts. His role in the formation of the village is invaluable, because practically at the expense of his funds the village developed. On the park square there is a mark of the "Amber Road" and a memorial stone with the name of the founder.

With a cursory acquaintance with the sights, the Lutheran church somehow immediately attracted attention.

It was founded on 09/08/1887 and already consecrated on 01/03/1892. Church in the Romanesque style, designed by architect V.L. Bessel-Lorca - a reduced replica of the St. George's Chapel in the garden of the royal castle of Monbijou (now defunct) in the Berlin suburbs. It was built from huge boulders at the base and figured bricks, with stained-glass windows, with an organ and 2 bells at the expense of the former owners of the estate, who took care of the souls and needs of their employees.
Surviving during the war, the religious institution in peacetime went from a club with a billiard room to a gym and a warehouse, until it began to collapse. In 1990, the church was transferred under the care of the Russian Orthodox Church, and on January 13, 1991, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad consecrated the temple in the name of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

Today the church has no stained-glass windows, with a corrugated iron roof instead of tiles, with traces of explosives in some places, but its historical appearance has been preserved. Sign at the entrance in Russian and German indicating the dates of construction, only the Russian version was limited to 1991, and the German one (as it should) with real dates in the chronology of history. By Decree of the Government of the Kaliningrad Region No. 132 dated March 23, 2007, the church was awarded the status of an object cultural heritage regional significance.

As the guide told us, the assessor's house was preserved opposite the church, next to it was the house for the factory workers. On one side of the church there was once a school founded by Friedrich Wilhelm I, in 1902 a private and boarding school for visiting high school students was added. Next to the opening of the railway connection, a travel agency for excursions was organized. And Becker's wife, who was engaged in charity work, and the Society for the Education of Women. Near the school there was a gym, and in the area of ​​​​the stadium there was a dance floor, which for some reason was called the "Platform of the Witches." A small brass band played at dances and village celebrations, and a large brass band (of 20 musicians) performed at holidays.

Sovetskaya Street - the former Hauptstrasse - has always been the focus best houses in the village, built mostly for the managers of the enterprise, with bathrooms, tiled stoves with ovens (they are still heated with coal). By Christmas, they baked apples exuding magical aromas. The street is still considered central; many of the most significant historical sites are located here.

On Sovetskaya, 68 - five-star "Schloss-hotel". A luxurious mansion with sculptures that adorned the roof and a fountain in front of it was used as a hotel for vacationers.

Nearby is the former housing for the manager of the estate and the director of the manufactory, built in 1828. In recent years, Maurice Becker lived in it.
In the 20th century, no one was particularly involved in the hotel, a few years ago it was a dull sight. The building, with its dim eye sockets and creaking staircases, overgrown with weeds, bore little resemblance to a respectable hotel. In 2012, according to old drawings and photographs, the historical part was restored in the form in which it existed under M. Becker.

Nearby "Square of Masters" for tourists.






There are a lot of interesting things in the pavilions, and there is something for the eye to linger on, but the main asset is amber, amber and again amber.

Behind the square, the park, stretching along the sea on an area of ​​12 hectares, bears the name of the person to whom it owes its appearance - the "amber king" Maurice Becker. In 1881, the usual home garden was expanded and supplemented. Over time, the maintenance of the park area was entrusted to the mining company.
Now it is the venue for many music festivals and mass events, qualifying rounds for the Russian Championship and international tournaments in beach football, volleyball, rugby and swimming on the lake - "Amber Mile". Every year since 2009, Yantarny hosts the semi-finals of the World Amber Fishing Championship (final on the Polish part of the Baltic Spit). And in winter - Epiphany bathing.

The famous promenade - a sidewalk with a wooden deck, with benches, viewing platforms along the coast, with stairs leading to the sea or to the city - also one of the attractions of Yantarny. It was opened on August 29, 2014 and is located in the area of ​​the longest-running Anna mine in the history of the village. The promenade stretches for almost 2 km, 700 m of which are above the artificial freshwater lake formed on the site of a former quarry. Swans and ducks swim on it. Today it is a favorite place for divers and local fishermen.

The village has an interesting past and an optimistic present, and historical monuments play an important role in the development of tourism.

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Actually west coast Russia, or rather the Kaliningrad region, is small in size, but absolutely a unique village with a beautiful name Yantarny. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is here, and practically only here, that amber, amazing in its beauty and properties, is mined. It is in this village that the only amber plant in the world is located, which extracts and processes amber.

Now Amber (Prussian Palweniken, Palmenicken (1491), German Palmnicken, Lit. Palvininkai, Polish Palmniki)- an urban-type settlement on the coast of the Baltic Sea, the administrative center of the Yantarny urban district of the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation.
As a settlement, Palmniken was founded in 1654. At that time, this part of the Baltic coast was an unattractive desert, swampy area. This is reflected in the very name of the settlement: its indigenous part can be translated as “empty lands”. But, due to an inexplicable whim of nature, only in this place the sea waves were especially generously thrown onto the sandy shore. amazing beauty pieces of solar stone - amber. Exactly mining of amber and became the reason for the founding of the settlement of Palmniken and the basis of its economic growth and development.

A little later, to the north of Palmniken, another small Krakstepellen settlement(German Kraxtepellen). But as an independent settlement, Krakstepellen did not last long, and soon merged into Palmniken.

Despite the fact that amber deposits are spread all over the world in small volumes, the largest and oldest region for the extraction of fossil resin is the coast of the Baltic Sea. Baltic amber has been found in Egyptian tombs that date back to 3200 BC. According to rough estimates, about 40 tons of amber are carried to the shores of the Baltic by a stormy sea per year. In 1878, near the village of Yantarny, a storm washed up on the shore so much amber that the locals collected it for several days. According to various estimates, from 80 to 90% of the world's fossil resin reserves are concentrated in the vicinity of Yantarny. This unique deposit is the largest not only in terms of reserves (according to a rough estimate - 640 thousand tons), but also in terms of concentration (about 2 kg per cubic meter of rock).
Thus, The history and development of Amber is inextricably linked with the history and development of amber mining.

Initially, amber was collected by hand: after a storm, they collected it along the coast, caught it in the waves with special nets. In calm weather, amber hunters went out to sea in boats, looking for stones at the bottom of the sea. This went on for quite a long time, until one very enterprising gentleman, Maurice Becker, became interested in these places, who saw the grandiose prospects for organizing the industrial production of amber. In 1870, Maurice Becker, with his partner Wilhelm Stantien, bought vast territories in the vicinity of Palmniken, and founded the amber mining company Shtantien and Becker. To begin with, Becker completely destroyed the old medieval castle of Palmniken and built a modern mansion in its place. Around the house, on the site of an old garden, in 1881 an impressive park was laid out, with a total area of ​​​​more than twelve hectares, in which, in addition to the existing ones, many rare, and even simply unique species of trees and plants were planted. Later, the son of Maurice Bakker expanded the park's collection by bringing rare trees from Japan and America. Amazing in its beauty, the North American Tulip tree has become a symbol of the park over time. Perfectly preserved to this day, Becker Park has become a real attraction of the Yantarny and is currently a favorite vacation spot for both its guests, as well as local residents. From the park you can go down directly to the sea along a convenient promenade. July 21, 2007 in the park named after Maurice Becker in Yantarny, a memorial stone was installed on which a metal plate was fixed with the inscription:

“1881 The park was founded by Maurice Becker.
1985 The park was declared a natural monument.
2007 The park was named after Maurice Becker.”

On September 8, 1887, opposite the estate, on the initiative of Becker and with the financing of the company "Stantien and Becker", founded Lutheran church(consecrated January 3, 1892). The project of the church was developed by the architect V.L. Bessel-Lork. The church was a small copy of the St. George Chapel in the garden of the royal castle of Montbignon on the outskirts of Berlin. Boulders and figured bricks were used for its construction. The church was famous for its colorful stained-glass windows on the themes of local subjects, an organ, and had two personalized bells from Shtantien and Becker. During the Second World War, the church survived, but in Soviet times it was used as a club and a gym, and then even as a warehouse, and gradually fell into disrepair. In 1990, among other objects of religious significance, the church was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. The building of the church was reconstructed and on January 13, 1991, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad consecrated it as a temple in the name of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. And although the former church has lost its colorful stained-glass windows, but, in general, its historical appearance is very well preserved.
As a result of the stormy activity deployed by Becker, 10 years later Palmniken (Amber) is becoming a very lively place with a developed industrial infrastructure. A railway from Fischhausen is being built to the village.

Practically monopoly mining of amber, established on an industrial scale, brings huge profits. The most modern amber mines at that time operate here. One of the most impressive mines was even given a name - "Anna".

However, after reaching its peak of more than 400 tons per year, by the end of the nineteenth century, the extraction of amber by the mine method began to dramatically reduce its volumes. Becker, anticipating a sharp drop in profitability, sells the amber deposit back to the state. Indeed, over the next ten years, all amber mines were closed. But the extraction of amber itself continued, already by the open method. To manage the production of the amber industry in Koenigsberg, the “Royal Amber Enterprise” (Koeniglichen Bernsteinwerke) was founded, and the Royal Mining Inspectorate was established in Palmniken (Yantarny), and money continued to flow into the state treasury. During the years 1905-1913, the Treasury received more than a million marks a year from the extraction of amber in the Palmniken (Yantarny) region.

Manor Becker later also became the property of the state and was equipped as a hotel. The mansion already then got its name “Schloss” - a hotel, which translates as “Hotel in the castle”. The estate has been perfectly preserved to this day, although it has been repeatedly reconstructed. But, especially when repairing the facade, they tried to maintain maximum historical accuracy, referring to the surviving pre-war photographs, and the estate is undoubtedly an interesting attraction of Yantarny. Now the estate also houses a hotel under the same name. Now it is an elite hotel that meets all modern requirements.

At the end of World War II, Soviet troops completely occupied Palmniken and its environs on April 15, 1945. In 1946, Palmniken was renamed Yantarny.

During the war, Yantarny was practically not damaged, and has retained its historical appearance to this day. The modern construction was carried out in a separate new microdistrict, so now, walking along the old streets, you can completely immerse yourself in the architectural environment of the early twentieth century and admire the picturesque pre-war buildings, covered with red tiles and immersed in greenery. In the center of Yantarny there are many small shops selling amber products. There are even several open amber workshops where you can go in, chat, see how the craftsmen work, buy the product you like right from the first hand. If you want to buy amber products at reasonable prices, then you are here.

But the war still left its sad mark on the history of Amber. On January 31 - February 1, 1945, presumably in the area of ​​​​the abandoned mine Anna (the exact location is unknown), the Nazis shot from 2 to 3 thousand people. They were prisoners of the concentration camps of East Prussia, driven by a foot column. Initially, there were more than 6,000 people in the column, of which more than 3,000 people died during the journey from exhaustion or as a result of executions. The survivors upon arrival in Palmniken were placed in the building of the locksmith shop of the Amber Combine, and a few days later they began to be taken to the coast in small groups and shot. In memory of this event, on January 30, 2011, on the outskirts of Yantarny near the Anna mine, a Monument to the victims of the "Death March" the work of sculptors Frank Meisler and Arieh Ovadia. The monument is a seven-meter hand raised to the sky carved from granite with the numbers of prisoners of the concentration camp. To the north of the monument there is a pyramid of field stones, on the edge of which there is a memorial plaque with the inscription: "In memory of the 7,000 Holocaust victims killed by the Nazis on January 31, 1945."

Amber fishing during the Second World War was suspended. But with the onset of a peaceful period, the new authorities began to try to restore the powerful volumes of local amber mining. Since 1948, the Amber Combine has resumed its work. The work was difficult: there were no appropriately qualified personnel, part of the equipment was lost during the war. At first, captured German specialists were attracted to work. But, gradually, the activity of the Amber Combine was fully restored, and gradually increasing the capacity to reach more than six hundred tons of amber per year. Along with mining, local production was also established for processing amber and creating jewelry on its basis. The amber brooch designed at that time in the form of a spider is still in demand.

The period of the late 90s - early 2000s was very difficult for both the amber plant and the village of Yantarny, as well as for the whole country as a whole. Even the railway communication to Yantarny ceased to function. But, despite all the problems and difficulties, the village of Yantarny survived, returned economic and cultural life to its streets, and is currently at the top of the list of attractions in the Kaliningrad region.

Kaliningrad Amber Plant now not only a successfully operating enterprise, but also a bright landmark of the village of Yantarny, the most popular tourist attraction, which in 2015 was included in the list of must-see places for travelers in Russia. Excursions at the Kaliningrad Amber Factory are held all year round. Excursion program The plant introduces visitors to the processes of extraction and processing of amber, and includes two tourist site– a showroom (museum) and an observation deck overlooking the quarry, where you can see with your own eyes the industrial production of amber. In the museum, you can independently assemble a simple amber jewelry, for which you will receive a corresponding certificate. From the observation deck of the Amber Combine, a view of the the largest seaside quarry in the world, where amber has been mined for over a century. Here you can try on medieval outfits and plunge into the past, as well as delve into the “sandbox” specially organized for tourists and find your piece of amber in the “blue earth”. The Amber Pyramid is also located here - a unique structure, the construction of which took 800 kg of amber chips, which has extensive healing properties.

At the entrance to Yantarny, arrivals are greeted by a powerful sculptural composition "Mermaid" installed in the Soviet period, decorated with mosaics.

In the center of Yantarny (street Sovetskaya, 61a), there is another interesting attraction - Museum "Amber Castle" According to some reports, the museum building was built in the 14th century and earlier it was part of the Palmniken fortress, which served to protect the coast and amber mines. To date, the building has been seriously reconstructed several times. The museum has a collection of German household items: here you can admire intricate dishes from various historical periods, antique furniture, and weapons. Various expositions dedicated to the pre-war history of Palmniken, the Second World War are widely represented. A large part of the exhibition diversity is represented by the Soviet era. There are also basements in the museum, in which there are real torture chambers and cells for prisoners of great age. The museum also hosts exhibitions by local artists, and the Superstition Museum is located on the second floor. This is a collection of carved wooden figurines of brownies, water goblins and other mythical characters with brief description who they are and how they help or harm people. The museum also has a hall dedicated to amber, and most of the exposition introduces the use of amber in medicine and cosmetology.
Numerous tinctures, powders, oils and ointments based on amber derivatives are presented here, which you can not only see, but also buy, and get advice on the medicinal properties of preparations based on amber. Here you can buy unique souvenirs in the form of a small bottle of amber-infused vodka or amber-based skin cream.

One more Yantarny's attraction is its water tower(Zheleznodorozhnaya street, 5b), built in 1920 and still in operation. The height of the tower is 35 m, the diameter is 11 m. In 2006-2007, the facade and roof of the water tower were repaired, a weather vane in the form of a unicorn was installed.

The main attraction of Yantarny, for which it is famous no less than for its amber craft, is its delightful, widest sandy sea beach in the Kaliningrad region, surrounded by boundless thickets of wild rose hips and sea buckthorn. The natural beauty of this place is completed by a large picturesque lake (a favorite vacation spot for divers), formed on the site of a former amber quarry. Moreover, thanks to the efforts of local residents and authorities, Yantarny beach has been considered the cleanest in the Kaliningrad region for many years. At the end of August 2014, the beach was landscaped with a modern promenade, which is a wooden path made of durable Siberian larch with viewing platforms, laid along sea ​​coast from the descent to the sea in Becker Park to the platform near the Galera cafe. Its length is 1980 meters, of which 700 pass over the lake.

A small summer stadium is equipped on Yantarny Beach, and every summer season, Yantarny hosts qualifying rounds for the Russian Championship and international tournaments in beach football, beach volleyball, as well as rugby and Swimming competitions on Lake Yantarny - "Amber Mile". Every year, starting from 2009, Yantarny hosts the semi-finals of the World Amber Fishing Championship (the final takes place on the Polish part of the Baltic Spit).
Amber is also very popular among diving enthusiasts. On the shore of the amber quarry "Walter" in the village of Yantarny there is a diving club "Poseidon 39". The club is equipped with everything you need modern equipment, and experienced instructors ensure the safety of divers. The diving program depends on the level of training and the wishes of the clients.

Recently, Yantarny has increasingly become the center of all kinds of major festivals, exhibitions and other cultural events. Among the most famous festivals are the annual international festival of spiritual and folk-patriotic songs "Peter and Paul Meetings in Yantarny", and the international music festival of electronic music "Amber Beach".

Kircha Palmniken (Amber)	Kircha Palmniken (Amber)
Museum "Amber Castle"	fireplace in the Amber Castle Museum

mumbling at work	in the main hall of the museum	stairs to the amber workshops

vintage chandelier	Hall of the Knights of the Order
viking weapons	bricks of the order castles of East Prussia

The last day of our short trip allowed us to visually feel how changeable the weather is in the Baltic. The rain that fell at night ended in the morning, but the sky was in clouds. Having breakfast at the Croissant cafe, we watched the city residents rush to work, many put on light jackets, it was cloudy and not at all hot.

Today we had to "take" another "height" -.

The village of Yantarny in the Kaliningrad region is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea. The population of Yantarny is 5.5 thousand people. The distance from to the village of Yantarny is 50 km. We drove along the so-called old roads. We drove through different villages and settlements, managed to see a little bit of the life of the "non-urban" residents of the Kaliningrad region. This road from Kaliningrad is quite busy, with good coverage, but narrow and winding. We begin to meet the famous roads with rows of trees standing on the sides - "", in dry and sunny weather, the road along them looks very picturesque. At the entrance to the village meets a mermaid:

Rest in the village of Yantarny, Kaliningrad region

In Yantarny for tourists there are several hotels and a bunch of accommodation offers in apartments. In the short Baltic season, almost everything is booked. Locals say that Yantarny village is not oversaturated with tourists. We were only one day, and even then - all day on the beach, but the village (in its coastal part) seemed to me quiet, not noisy.

Becker Park in Yantarny

Here, on an elevated terrace by the sea, is the Moritz Becker Park. Becker is a German, owner of amber quarries. By his will, on the site of the old garden in 1881, a park was laid out with lindens, maples, oaks, chestnuts and rare plants brought specially from Japan and America. On the territory of the park (13 hectares) residents and guests of Yantarny walk. Becker himself was one of the owners of the Shtantin and Becker company, which developed a quarry method for extracting amber back in the 19th century. By the way, the name of the park in honor of its founder was given only in 2007, that is, in recent history Russia.

Festival "Amber Beach"

Yantarny organizes various bright events every summer. For example, a couple of days ago (we were in Poland at that time) there was an electronic music festival "Amber Beach". Concert pavilions, large screens, campsites, food courts are organized on a special territory. There were musicians from Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Iceland, etc. We then talked with the bartender on, he told how everything went - there were a lot of people, there was also a lot of good music. This year, on the last day (the Festival runs for three days), it rained heavily in the evening, but none of the spectators were "washed away". It's all over in the morning.

Amber plant Kaliningrad region

In the Village there is an Amber Combine - an enterprise for the extraction and processing of amber. The Palmniken settlement on the site of today's Yantarny settlement arose in the 17th century, and the first inhabitants, in addition to traditional fishing, were engaged in the extraction of amber. And the settlement received development at the end of the 19th century, when a railway was laid here from the German Fishhouse (modern Primorsk Russia), along which the mined amber was taken away for processing to other parts of Prussia.

Amber in the Baltic pursues at every turn, and in the Baltic part of Poland, and in Lithuania, and, of course, in the Kaliningrad region.

The enterprise for the industrial extraction of amber was founded in 1947 on the basis of the former Königsber amber manufactory. On the basis of the German manufactory in Palmnikin, two stone mines were opened - "Henrietta" and "Anna". The Anna mine is also infamous for the fact that Jews who were driven here in 1945 from the concentration camps of East Prussia were shot near it. In memory of this event, a monument to the victims of the Holocaust was erected in Yantarny. The Nazis flooded the quarries in Palmniken at the end of the war. The Soviet government already in 1947 took measures to restore mining, and in 1948 the first hundred tons of amber were mined! In the 90s, the amber plant changed the status of the enterprise several times, acquired debts. But it seems that the bad times are over, and now the Amber Plant is working stably, with a profit. Now there is a special hall-museum with historical data on the extraction of amber, excursions are held, there is a special excursion to the quarry where you can watch the extraction of amber. And in October 2016, the first Economic Forum of the Amber Industry of the Russian Federation will be held in Svetlogorsk, organized by the Amber Plant.

What is amber, how is it formed?

I read a lot about this stone and so I realized that there is no consensus on how amber was formed. There are many myths and legends about this. More Egyptian pharaohs and the priests wore pieces of yellow stone for decoration or for something else. There is a certain scientific version, which is considered official.

About 50 million years ago there was dry land in some part of the Baltic Sea. Pine trees grew there, which, unlike modern ones, were more resinous. Pine trees, under the influence of special physiological and various other physico-chemical processes, released resin (gum), which flowed from the trunk and formed literally clusters on the trees. Under the influence of the wind, the trees bent and broke, the resin flowed to the ground. Or birds, in search of insects, hollowed out the bark of trees, leaving holes through which the resin flowed out. One way or another, pieces of resin fell to the ground, oxidized and crusted. Then there was climate change, global warming, the convergence of huge glaciers. As a result, part of the land with pieces of amber became the sea.

There are deposits of stone in Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Mexico, Azerbaijan, Romania, Sakhalin (!), in Japan, in the Dominican Republic. And in the area of ​​​​the village of Yantarny in the Kaliningrad region in Russia, it turns out that there is one of the most big places deposits of amber. 90% of the world's amber reserves are mined on its territory, you think about it - 90%! Stone deposits (layers) are located at a depth of fifty meters, the main part of this layer is in the sea, but part is on land, on the coast. It is possible to get amber before and now in Yantarny, just walking along the coast and picking up pebbles.

Amber mining methods

There were several ways of extracting amber: from simply "catching" pieces with a net from a boat from the depths of the sea to the construction of such peculiar amber mines or pits. Since the middle of the 20th century, amber mining has become more technologically advanced. Amber is found in nature in various forms and types. In Kaliningrad, in the Amber Museum there is a specimen weighing more than 4 kg, and in London, in the Museum natural history there is a "pebble" weighing more than 15 kg. By the way, in July 2016, a piece of amber weighing about 2.5 kg was found in the Kaliningrad region, which has not happened in recent years. And the most expensive specimens are inclusions: in the stone there are insects or small animals frozen thousands (or maybe millions) years ago. Presumably, insects or animals literally stuck to the pieces of resin and stayed there forever. The cost of such a piece with a frozen lizard, for example, reaches several tens of thousands of dollars.

The deposit in Yantarny is unique in that raw materials are mined here in the marine and coastal-marine parts, and here, in the village, it is processed at the Yantarny plant. In addition, it is curious that amber is washed ashore by storms on its own: about two tons were carried out near the village of Yantarny at the end of the 19th century, and in Solnechnogorsk in 1914, after a storm, about a ton of amber was found on the shore. Statistics show that in the Kaliningrad region about 40 tons of amber is taken out of the sea per year. But, of course, the main part is mined in an industrial highly mechanized way.

The urban-type settlement is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea. The name of the town was not chosen by chance, on its territory there is a plant engaged in the extraction and processing of amber.

The small seaside town of Yantarny in the Kaliningrad region is a unique and charming place. Its main feature is that it is here that the largest deposits of amber in the world are located (according to some estimates, 90 percent of the world's reserves). The city of Yantarny (until 1947 - Palmniken) was founded in 1654, and even then amber fishing was the main source of income for local residents along with fishing. The history of Yantarny has more than seven hundred years, and amber has been successfully mined since the 17th century. Merchants and landowners could appreciate the rich deposits of valuable amber. Nowadays, many tourists are ready to visit a small urban-type settlement in order to make sure that this settlement is truly unique.

Yantarny is one of the most beautiful and cozy places in the Kaliningrad region, with a unique park area, a wide beach, an old park and fabulous houses. Almost all of the world's amber reserves are concentrated in this beautiful region, so it is here that the only one of its kind processing plant for processing this valuable mineral and making products from it is located.

Starting from 2009, as part of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the creation of the Amber Room, the semi-finals of the World Amber Fishing Championship are held every year in Yantarny.

Yantarny has direct rail and bus connections from Kaliningrad. In summer, buses run every half an hour from the North and South stations of Kaliningrad.

The monument to the Mermaid in the sea waves, which stands at the entrance to the village, is a symbol of Amber. The monument was built during the Soviet era, but to this day it has been perfectly preserved and can please tourists.

The mermaid has long hair that is loose in the sea waves, which brings pleasure not only for professional architects, but also for lovers of such objects. Monument Mermaid in the sea waves opens the border locality, so every visitor sees the local landmark.

One of the most beautiful buildings in the old town - the Lutheran church of Palmniken in 1892, built of huge boulders. This is an architectural monument of the late 19th century. It was erected according to the project of the architect V.L. Bessel-Lorca and is a small copy of the St. George's Chapel, located in the garden of the Berlin royal castle Montbignon.

The temple consists entirely of boulders and figured bricks, the interior decoration is decorated in the Romanesque style. After the end of the war, the building of the church housed a club, billiards, a sports hall and a warehouse, as a result of which the organ and stained-glass windows were lost. In 1990, the dilapidated building of the temple was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. A year later, the restored church was consecrated in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

The address: Kaliningrad region settlement Yantarny Sovetskaya street, 69-a

The most famous amber museum in the world is located in the village of the same name. It is housed in a 14th century building that was once part of the Palmniken Fortress. The exposition tells about the history of the city, as well as about the extraction and processing of amber. Some exhibits are devoted to Slavic mythology, superstitions, spirits. The most interesting exhibit of the museum is an amber pyramid as tall as a human being.

In the museum complex "Amber Castle" there is an original "Museum of Russian Superstitions" of its kind. The exhibits of this wonderful museum are represented by various wooden figurines depicting the spirits of the Slavs, characters of folk beliefs, as well as fairy tales. Among the many figurines you can see Babai, Zapechnik, Dvorovoy, Sandman, Baba Yaga, Kikimora, Leshy. Moreover, each figure has interesting description. The museum regularly hosts art exhibitions and musical events.

The address: Kaliningrad region settlement Yantarny, st. Soviet, 61-a

The water tower of Palmniken is an architectural monument of the first quarter of the 20th century. It was built near railway station in 1920 and is still used for its intended purpose. The structure is made of red brick with white decor, and the roof is covered with red tiles.

The height of the tower is 35 meters, and the diameter reaches 11 meters. In 2006-2007, the facade and roofs of the structure were repaired and a weather vane in the form of a unicorn was installed. Since 2007, the Palmniken water tower has received the status of a cultural heritage site of local importance and has been taken under protection.

The address: Kaliningrad region, Yantarny, st. Zheleznodorozhnaya, 5-B

The monument was erected in 1975 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Great Victory in honor of the Soviet soldiers who died in the vicinity of Yantarny during World War II.

Over 60 heroes rest in this memorable place. The eternal flame and the four-meter figure of a soldier with a machine gun in his hand immortalized the memory of the heroes forever. On both sides of the monument, the names of the buried are inscribed on marble slabs.

The address: Kaliningrad region, Yantarny, st. Soviet

Near the Anna mine there is a Monument erected in honor of the dead prisoners of concentration camps. In wartime, prisoners were shot near the mine and thrown into its adits.

An unusual monument is represented by hands raised to the sky, carved from granite stone. This huge monument reaches a height of about 7 meters. On the monument you can see the numbers assigned to the prisoners of the concentration camps, which were engraved on the arms of the monument. Next to the monument is a field stone pyramid, on which is a plaque with the inscription: "In memory of the 7,000 Holocaust victims killed by the Nazis on January 31, 1945." The monument itself was made in Spain, and was transported to Yantarny in parts. The monument was made at the expense of the Kaliningrad entrepreneur Vladimir Katsman, and its authors were world-famous sculptors - Frank Meisler and Arie Ovadia.

The address: Kaliningrad region settlement Yantarny, st. Soviet

The amber pyramid was built in honor of the 65th anniversary of the local plant. The attraction is located on its territory, not far from the observation deck.

The amber pyramid is a symbol of the amazing skill of the company's personnel. Its characteristics are surprising: height - 3.3 meters, surface area - 25 square meters. Each of the four walls of the pyramid is lined with a thick layer of amber weighing 500 kilograms. The pyramid accommodates 10-12 people at the same time.

The address:

The amber plant, located in the village of the same name on the coast of the Baltic Sea, is the only enterprise in the world that mines amber for industrial purposes. It was created in the village of Yantarny in February 1947, where, according to experts, there is a deposit - 90 percent of the world's amber reserve, which is almost 50 million years old. In 1951, an art workshop began to work here. Now 300 tons of raw materials are mined annually.

Today, the plant produces mass products and offers unique exhibits created on the basis of individual orders. To create jewelry and souvenirs, the natural form of amber, which is distinguished by its rich palette, is used in an interesting way. Products are exported to America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East .

The address: Kaliningrad region settlement Yantarny, st. Balebina, 1

Maurice Becker Park is located between the coast of the Baltic Sea, as well as Sovetskaya Street. Moritz Becker is a well-known amber manufacturer, thanks to whom the development of amber mining in the village became possible. It was Maurice Becker, with the help of the gardener Löwner, in 1881, from the old park of the estate, that and now a beautiful park was laid out. The park was created on the basis of the manor garden. Here it was possible to preserve the old powerful lindens, poplars, and ligatures. Moreover, the age of linden reaches two hundred years. Valuable ornamental plants from different countries peace.

Becker park area is considered the most popular place for recreation in the city of Yantarny. A large number of unique species, original in their appearance of ancient beeches and oaks, lindens. A unique area overlooking the water, where there is a comfortable swing that will help you enjoy your time in the park, is in demand.

The park is decorated with incredible statues, monuments that will not leave anyone indifferent. Landscaping is distinguished by originality and unusual details. In order to study nature, excursions for schoolchildren are often held in the park. Ornamental plants such as red oak, Japanese crimson and pseudo-hemlock grow in the park. The highlight of the park is the tulip tree, which is also called liriodendron. There are two such trees in the park. The name tulip tree is given to it for its unusual flowers, outwardly resembling greenish tulips with large orange spots at the base. The leaves of the tree are similar in shape to the ancient Greek musical instrument lyre, hence the second name - liriodendron.

The address: Kaliningrad region, pos. Yantarny, st. Soviet

One of the attractions of Yantarny is the beach promenade. On the left side of the promenade are the beach and the Baltic Sea, on the right - small sand dunes with grass and M. Becker Park. Several staircases lead to the sea, and a wide strip of the beach goes beyond the horizon in two directions at once.

The length of the promenade, which was created on the basis of Siberian larch, reaches two kilometers. Part of the promenade runs through salt lakes left after the extraction of a unique solar stone.

The address: Kaliningrad region settlement Amber, park them. Becker

One of the most favorite places for walks of residents and guests of the village is the Square of Masters.

Here you can not only buy paintings, souvenirs, amber jewelry, but also book a tour or rent a bicycle. It is not surprising that many tourists try to enjoy a walk on the Masters Square.

The address: Kaliningrad region settlement Yantarny, st. Soviet, 72