Friedland Gate Museum

Set a little way out of the centre on the southern defensive line of the Inner Ring, the Friedland Fate and the museum it holds is worth taking a trip out to see. The gate itself is impressive enough, but it’s the exhibitions inside which make the trip rather poignant but nonetheless worthwhile. Set over a few rooms are collections of everyday household items recovered from the rubble of what was left of Königsberg and from the lakes in the nearby South Park. There is a mock-up of a Königsberg street with shops and kiosks each side displaying typical pre-war goods and at the end of the cobbled room is a black and white photo of old Königsberg. Periodically a short film is shown showing photos and bits of film of Königsberg which gives you a look back through time into a period, onto streets and a city that simply no longer exists. It’s a peculiar exhibition but one which does leave an effect. Take a moment to look around outside at the remains of the outward facing fortifications before passing through the rest of the museum where you’ll see a small presentation on the city’s fortifications; an exhibition on knights and, peculiarly, an exhibition on city sewerage. As with most museums in Kaliningrad, the lack of English explanation might frustrate but there is enough to see and understand here to make it a good use of your time.