10 Things to do Good for Kids in Kaliningrad That You Shouldn't Miss

The submarine is one of the most popular objects of the Museum of the World Ocean. The B-413 was built in Leningrad and was launched in September, 1968. During 30 years it had been serving in the North and Baltic Fleets. The submarine was moored at the museum quay in June, 2000. It is the only one in the country and a few in the world belonging to pre-atomic period of undersea fleet. Moreover, it is preserved in its original state. Firm and light hulls, superstructure, all the major and auxiliary mechanisms, equipment and weapons are the same as they were after the submarine was excluded from the Navy. What strikes you most as you walk along the narrow corridors and squeeze through the seemingly miniscule portholes that protect each section, is the incredible mechanical complexity. This 1960s technology required pipes, cumbersome and hard wearing switches and large well worn wheels to keep the submarine either afloat or submerged, as needs dictated.

Fort XI Donhoff is the fortified structure built in 1877-1882. It is one of 12 forts composing the outer fortification ring of former Fortress Koenigsberg previously called "Night feather-bed of Konigsberg". In the end of the Second World War on April 7, 1945 the garrison located in Fort XI capitulated practically without fight. On this reason it is the most undisturbed and well-preserved fort among other Kaliningrad forts. Nowadays guests visiting Fort XI Donhoff have possibility to touch pure history and see with their own eyes the part of Koenigsberg defensive system that existed before 1945. There are such interesting exhibits and objects as original German gate, iron spiral staircases, barracks corridors, an observation post, the operating lifting mechanism for a raising of ammunition, etc. Now it is under the management of a private company that preserves its identity and develops the fort as a museum, touristic, cultural and artisan center.

Museum of the World Ocean is one of the most innovative modern cultural institutions in Russia. It is more than just a museum – it’s also a cultural centre offering opportunities to see, learn about, and listen to everything marine. We try to connect different shores, cultures and people with our permanent expositions and temporary exhibitions, innovative ideas and ecological initiatives.Our vessels: Diesel/electric Submarine "B-413", Scientific-research Vessel "Vityaz", Research vessel of the Russian Aerospace Agency "Kosmonavt Victor Patsaev", Medium Catching Trawler "SRT-129", Icebreaker "Krasin". Main building and open territory: Aquariums with dwellers of various areas of the World ocean. Congress-hall for exhibitions, conferences and presentations. Exposition "Shores of the World". The lighthouse “Sperm-whale” pavilion. Open territory with oceanological and diving equipment, archeological findings. Landscape park "The Baltic Sea".

Local history museum “Friedland gate” is located in similarly named architectural monument of XIX century- town gates “Friedland”, which were build in 1862 and which used to be a part of town fortifications of Koenigsberg.The museum is dedicated to the history of prewar Koenigsberg. And it’s block-stone road “leads” to the past of forever gone town Koenigsberg…Under the gates, combining he real block-stone road and it’s image on old prewar photos which are projected on lateral walled up embrasures; begins the unbelievable by force of emotional impact stroll across the streets of old town, “taking away” the walls and opening out the borders of time and space. The carts creak, the walking by ladies heels click, the children laugh – Friedland gate opens the time portal to the town which no longer exists. The “stroll” lasts exactly an hour and during this time you may “pass” according logically build route the whole historical center of the town look into town windows of the shops, cafes, pharmacies (the museum windows are designed in the form of street windows), to bargain at the fish market, and at the end of the stroll, just by one step come from a virtual park to find yourself in a real landscape park spreading across the bounds of Friedland gate and made on the place of former fortifications.