Hi all! Today I will tell you about one of the most important attractions of Kaliningrad and the region. This is amber - an ornamental stone, which is the fossilized resin of ancient coniferous trees. It so happened that in our region about 90% of this golden stone is concentrated and there is the only amber processing plant not only in Russia, but also in the world.

Excursion to Yantarny

I recently found out that the Amber Plant, located, by the way, in the village of Yantarny, conducts excursions for everyone, and last weekend my friends and I went there to tell you what it’s like there.

So, here you can go on 2 excursions. The first is carried out in an organized manner on the territory of the plant at the address: st. Balebina, 1. Excursions are held every hour (at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00) every day. Ticket price is 150 rubles. To get on the excursion, you need to go to the entrance of the plant, inform them that you are tourists, and follow the security guard, who will take you to a special room where the excursion is conducted.

To be honest, I was a little disappointed. I thought that they would show us how amber is mined, how it is processed, and maybe they would give us a sneak peek into some workshop. But no. They simply told us about production, explored deposits, the history of the plant, and so on, but did not show us. In this excursion room you can watch a film about amber mining, look at amber of different colors, take a photo on an amber throne under an amber chandelier and look at numerous amber creations of Soviet and Russian masters. However, if you know nothing at all about amber, I would advise you to look here.

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The second excursion is an independent visit to the quarry where amber is mined. It is located at the other end of the village, to the right of the mermaid marking the entrance to Yantarny. It seems to me that it is better to go there by car or at least by bicycle, otherwise you will have to walk for quite a long time.

Tickets are sold at the checkpoint and cost 180 rubles. Along with the ticket, each visitor is given an amber miner's diploma, in which all that remains is to enter his name.

On the observation deck of the quarry you can actually look at the quarry itself, what is happening in it, and what the general scale of what is happening is.

In addition, here stands the Amber Pyramid, a gallows for amber thieves and a sandbox into which the kind workers of the plant generously poured small amber - in free access There are shovels available for anyone who wants to find their own pebble. We liked it much more here.

After visiting the quarry and going on a tour, do not rush to leave Yantarny. After all, here is one of the best beaches in the region - wide, spacious, with enough space for everyone. There is also a wonderful wooden promenade along the sea, its length is almost 2 kilometers and it is very cool to walk along it.

The only thing is that catering is not very good in Yantarny, so I recommend that you take food with you or go to a local supermarket and then have a picnic right on the beach, because you will be here in August, when hot weather is most likely, and after the conference you will have two days off that you can spend in the Kaliningrad region.

Book a hotel in Kaliningrad: http://1kaliningrad.ru/

Amber Museum

If you want to learn even more about amber, go to the Kaliningrad Amber Museum. You already know where it is located. Directly opposite Vasilevsky Square there is the Don Tower, in which the museum is located. A ticket there costs 200 rubles, in addition to which you can book an excursion. The museum’s website says that discounted excursion sessions are held every Saturday and Sunday at 12:00 and 16:00. By the way, like the plant, it is - the only amber museum in Russia.

At the main exhibition of the museum you can see amber of different colors and sizes, look at jewelry and household items made of sunstone from the Neolithic era to the present day, learn about the work of the Amber Manufactory of Königsberg and the Amber Factory of Kaliningrad, and look at the work of amber masters of different times.

Where to buy amber

After everything I’ve said, a logical question arises: “Where can I buy amber souvenirs and jewelry?” Actually everywhere.

As I already said, amber in Kaliningrad is sold on literally every corner. Tents, shops, departments in shopping centers– There is a lot of amber here. But, unfortunately, stylish and beautiful things are not sold everywhere. Or rather, what is most often sold is outright kitsch: figurines covered with fragments of amber, roughly processed jewelry made from melted amber, icons and souvenirs with amber.

Personally, I like what the creative project “Prussian Honey” is doing (don’t take it as advertising). Their works can be bought on the ground floor of the Amber Museum and in their own store on Leninsky Prospekt 17a-23a. I love that they don't make granny style beads, but instead make ethnic style jewelry.

And last year I learned about creative association Russian Amber, as far as I understand, it is based in Moscow and was created with the aim of popularizing amber, which, let’s be honest, last years was undeservedly forgotten. The works of these designers are not sold in our city, but I couldn’t help but tell about them.

Until next week!

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. On the coast of this sea today there are quite a lot of geographical points that are interesting for tourists. Among them the city Amber occupies a special place.

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

Along with many other cities in the Kaliningrad region, Yantarny was also once a 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 dates back more than 700 years. The root of the name of this city can be translated as “empty lands.” It’s not surprising; in ancient times there was nothing here. Just damp swamps. But since the 17th century, amber has been mined here quite actively. There was always a lot of it here. Rich deposits of amber attracted various traders and landowners here. The territory of Palmniken passed from one hand to another several times.

Among the most famous people Those who favored these surroundings with their attention can be called Elector George Wilhelm, as well as King Frederick I. However, the success story of Palmniken begins in 1870. When the land available here is purchased 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 old lock and built a beautiful new mansion. Around his new home, Becker laid out a powerful park of more than twelve hectares. This park still exists today under the name Becker Park. It is full of rare and unique specimens of trees and flowers.

Soon, 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 arrived in these places, Palmniken (Yantarny) becomes a bustling industrial town. And there is even a railway station here. The legacy of the Becker family and his business partners is preserved in the chronicles with all the respect of historians.

Becker's house subsequently became Prussian property. And in early XIX centuries, the building was used as a local hotel. We came here for the wonderful climate, sun, warm sea and interesting flora of the park. The mansion got its name back then “Schloss”-hotel. Or, translated into Russian, “Hotel in the Castle.” If you come to Yantarny today, you will see this building under the same name on its historical site. Now it is an elite hotel with all the amenities. It is often visited by foreigners alone and by entire delegations. The hotel has been restored and remodeled several times. Seeing this majestic white shining building with columns, know that Becker himself once lived and worked here.

Becker's company sold the Anna mine to the state in the 19th century. Around the same time, another local attraction 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. In just ten years, the Anna mine was closed. And industrialists switched to amber extraction using the open method. Then in Palmniken appeared famous quarry called "Walter". Today the quarry is classified as a semi-closed type facility. You can take a walk there and see the surroundings. But at the same time, there are security guards who can prohibit you from visiting certain corners. Locals say that the quarry is guarded quite strictly.

The appearance of another local attraction is associated with tragic events 1945. Almost 5,000 people were killed here near the Anna mine. The prisoners, who had been 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 transition. Others were killed on the coast and randomly buried in various places. Some of these people were placed in 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 - Yantarny. The USSR repeatedly tried to restore powerful production volumes of local amber. This began already in 1948. Since the launch of the amber plant, its capacity has been gradually increased. And we managed to produce more than six hundred tons of amber per year. Along with mining, local production also made it possible to process and create unique products from amber. After the plant fell victim to privatization schemes and market redistribution in 2000, it is restoring its former capacity. Today he is working. Moreover, on some days any tourist can get inside the plant. Tickets for such excursions are sold nearby, in a store of finished amber products. The only “but” is that it is prohibited 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 walk through the park to the water along the purest sand. Which is continuously cleared of garbage and constantly transported by trucks. It is better to choose a sunny, bright day to visit the beach. It was then that the special atmosphere of these places was noticeable, which at one time captivated Becker himself. Work on the design of the beach continues today. Not long ago, local architects built a “promenade”. This is a very long walking boardwalk along the coastline. A wonderful place to walk while looking at the sea. Walking on fine sand is not convenient for everyone. And the promenade in this regard is a great way to spend time on the shore.

You'll probably want to get a few pieces of amber as a souvenir of your visit to this city. And this is where 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 Combine. It runs once every hour. And it includes a visit to some kind of sandbox with pieces of amber. Excursionists are allowed to collect such pieces as souvenirs. The second way to find amber is to buy it. But not in expensive stores. There are small points in squares and streets where locals affordable price they sell the pieces of amber themselves and products made from it. The prices of such hawkers are an order of magnitude lower than store prices.

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

On the ground floor of the Amber Castle there are a lot of museum-style exhibitions and shops selling amber jewelry. On the second floor you can directly see the amber processing process in action. And it’s quite inexpensive to buy something there. There is also amber in its medicinal form: tinctures, powders, oils. You can also get advice on the therapeutic purposes of using amber.

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

A few words about how to get to Yantarny. The simplest of them is to take a bus from the Northern Station of the city of Kaliningrad. If you choose a regular bus, you will have to travel for more than an hour. There are also minibuses that take people in groups and go along the same route. Both buses and minibuses run every hour from morning until 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 travel time can be very long if you encounter traffic jams, such as rush hour.

Yantarny town on the shore Baltic Sea- wonderful place. Here you can spend a day or two in peace and quiet. If you come here at the end of July - beginning of August, then nothing could be better as a resort. Bright sun, warm sea, fresh greenery of local forests and parks. Cleanliness and peace make Yantarny one of the most promising resort towns in the Kaliningrad region. 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 with which we began. Why vacation abroad if we have such wonderful places in Russia?

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

It is small, but it has plenty of attractions.

World fame the village received thanks to the amber deposit, industrial-scale mining and its processing plant. Since 2004 it has been the administrative center municipality"Amber City District". Today this town (and many do not call it anything else) with a population of just over 5.5 thousand people is one of the most comfortable and beautiful. And in last decade it is actively restored and developed, transforming right before our eyes. Although the historical appearance of the village is preserved thanks to the water tower, pedestrian stone bridge, preserved buildings of 3 former bakeries and old houses that remember the events of the past. In addition, Yantarny attracts with its cozy houses, surrounded by green streets, and local attractions. Here you can have a great rest, improve your health and, at the same time, if you don’t see it during the excursion, then at least learn a lot of interesting things.


Amber, scattered along the coast, was declared the property of the Order even during the time of the crusaders who captured Prussia. And according to the “amber laws” at the beginning of the 13th century, those caught collecting and hiding what was found were severely punished by the authorities. Punishments, depending on the amount of damage caused to the order's treasury, ranged 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).


But not everyone was deterred by the bleak prospect of ending their days with an exemplary hanging on the gallows. Having remembered the next comrade, the most desperate ones, dressed accordingly, set off over and over again for their criminal business. And they mined the valuable stone either with nets in the coastal zone along with seaweed, or loosened the bottom with hooks, or picked it out of the clay with “scratchers.” They even hunted at night, believing that jewelry made from “night” amber were amulets against street thieves and road troubles. After all, sometimes the sea (especially after a storm) made it possible for all the “prospectors,” legitimate miners and smugglers, to hit a considerable jackpot.

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

Significant changes began here when a native of Danzig, Maurice Becker, who earned his starting capital through trading, entered into a share with the owner of an inn in Memel, Wilhelm Stantin. First, the shipowner and merchant opened an amber mining company, Stantin und Becker. The mines began to generate income until supplies ran dry. So, in search of new deposits, the owners appeared in Palmniken and, having bought the estate from the bankrupt Baron Goltz, founded a mine. And the government, on May 20, 1875, officially allowing the extraction of amber industrially, 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 gradually amassed, albeit small, their own capital. Among the miners in the mines there were even Russian citizens who came to work. In fact, from the “Anna” and “Henrietta” mines (1883), where amber began to be mined in an advanced way, that is, “mine and quarry”, even a railway was laid from Fischhausen (now Primorsk), and divers were involved in mining from the sea, and A completely decent story began for the village.

The Anna mine was considered the most productive, especially when steam dredging machines replaced manual labor. True, “Henrietta” was quickly closed due to unprofitability, but “Anna” existed for 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 developed - the predecessor of the current Kaliningrad Amber Combine, where the “sun stone” was mined open method until the 70s of the last century, until its reserves ran out.
In 1926, the amber quarry and Palmniken processing plant became part of the State Amber Manufactory. Of course, not only the jewelry business flourished; they launched the production of haberdashery, succinic acid, amber oil and fused amber. In Prussia, it was considered a “truly German stone,” so in July 1933, Amber Days began to be organized 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 to produce 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 when the Germans retreated, the quarries along with the mining equipment were flooded.

Sad events are associated with the former Anna mine. The Nazis drove prisoners from nearby concentration camps to these parts, and in order to prevent their release Soviet troops, decided to exterminate the Jewish prisoners. Under the escort of SS men and policemen, on January 15, 1945, a multi-kilometer “death march” began. Hungry, mutilated, almost naked people fell and were finished off on the spot. Thousands died along the road; those who reached Palmniken were driven into the workshop. Even at such a time, there were people among the Germans who managed to collect and give potatoes and bread to the prisoners. The destruction of those sentenced to death was publicly opposed by the director of the enterprise, Landman, and the manager of the Fayerabend estates. The protest did not achieve anything, but it happened, and these people deserve respect for their action.
On the night of January 31 to February 1, 1945, the Nazis shot, according to various sources, from 2 to 4.5 thousand people remaining from a column of many thousands. Taking people to the icy shore (ostensibly 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 darkness survived that massacre.
According to information from museum employees, a burial ground was found near Palmniken with the remains of 300 people, with a Star of David on the clothing of one of them. But it is unknown whether all those executed were Jews.
According to another version, the prisoners were blown up in abandoned adits. There are still many dark spots left in history, but since 2002, every year memorial events are held in memory of the victims of the Holocaust at the site of the tragedy during the Second World War. And in 2010, near the observation deck at 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 Anna mine in the history of the twentieth century is the Amber Room hidden in its depths (or some treasure with works of old masters is unknown). There is a version that at the end of the war, boxes were brought here by trucks, during unloading there was a cordon, and they shot without warning at everything that moved. But there could be anything there, because studies of the adits and drifts (which are still under the village) were not carried out, and German plans for their location have not been preserved.

Memory of those killed 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 plaques with their names.

The village was cleared of the enemy by Soviet troops on April 15, 1945, after which a new round in its fate began. After the war, Palmniken became part of the USSR and on June 17, 1947 it was renamed Yantarny. And on July 25, 1947, it was awarded the status of a “workers’ village.” Since 1948, its main production, where most of the workforce were prisoners, resumed again. Only since 1953, plant No. 9 of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs began to be called the now familiar name “Kaliningrad Amber Plant”. His first products even made it to VDNKh, and 2 years later to international exhibitions abroad.
The plant either flourished or was declared bankrupt. This area contains approximately 90% of the world's amber reserves, which, according to experts, is about 60 million years old. Replacing worn-out funds has improved the picture. And jewelry production is now on a grand scale.

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


There is a museum and the Amber Pyramid there.





Those who wish can even be “prospectors” for a few minutes. What if you get lucky?

Under M. Becker, the quarries were actively developed, and production annually brought the company a solid income, so the industrialist could also be a philanthropist. His role in the formation of the village is invaluable, because the village developed practically at his expense. On the park square there is a mark of the “Amber Route” and a memorial stone with the name of the founder.

During a quick acquaintance with the sights, the Lutheran Church somehow immediately attracted attention.

It was founded on September 8, 1887 and was already consecrated on January 3, 1892. Church in the Romanesque style designed by the architect V.L. Bessel-Lorca is a smaller replica of the Chapel of St. George in the garden of the royal castle of Monbijou (now defunct) in a Berlin suburb. It was built from huge boulders at the base and figured bricks, with stained glass windows, an organ and 2 bells at the expense of the former owners of the estate, who cared about the souls and needs of their employees.
Having survived the war, a religious institution in Peaceful time 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 to the guardianship 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 Mother of God.

Today the church has no stained glass windows, a roof made of corrugated iron instead of tiles, and traces of explosives in some places, but its historical appearance has been preserved. The sign at the entrance is in Russian and German indicating the dates of construction, only the Russian version was limited to 1991, and the German (as it should) with the 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, and next to it was a house for factory workers. On one side of the church there was once a school founded by Friedrich Wilhelm I; in 1902 a private school and a boarding school for visiting high school students were added. Near the opening of the railway connection, a travel agency for excursions was organized. And Becker’s wife, who was involved in charity work, and the Women’s Education Society. There was a gym near the school, and in the area of ​​the stadium there was a dance floor, which for some reason was called the “Witches’ Ground.” 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 center of the best houses in the village, built mostly for enterprise managers, with bathrooms, tiled stoves with ovens (they are still heated with coal). For Christmas, apples were baked in them, emitting magical aromas. The street is still considered central; many of the most significant historical objects are located here.

On Sovetskaya, 68 - five-star “Schloss Hotel”. Luxurious mansion with sculptures decorating the roof and a fountain in front of it, it was used as a hotel for vacationers.

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

Nearby is the “Masters Square” for tourists.






There is 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 is a park stretching along the sea on an area of ​​12 hectares, it bears the name of the man 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 enterprise.
Now it is a venue for many music festivals and public events, qualifying rounds of the Russian championship and international tournaments in beach soccer, volleyball, rugby and swimming on the lake - “Amber Mile”. Every year since 2009, the semi-final of the World Amber Fishing Championship (the final on the Polish part of the Baltic Spit) has been held in Yantarny. And in winter - Epiphany bathing.

The famous promenade - sidewalk with wooden flooring, with benches, observation decks along the coast, with stairs leading to the sea or to the city - also one of the attractions of Yantarny. It 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 is over an artificial freshwater lake formed on the site former quarry. Swans and ducks swim on it. Today it is favorite place 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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The last day of our short trip allowed us to clearly feel how changeable the weather is in the Baltic. The rain that fell at night stopped in the morning, but the sky was overcast. Having breakfast at the Croissant cafe, we watched as city residents rushed 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, Kaliningrad region, is located on the shores of the Baltic Sea. The population of Yantarny is 5.5 thousand people. The distance from the village of Yantarny is 50 km. We drove along the so-called old roads. We drove through different towns and settlements, and managed to see a little of the life of the “non-urban” residents of the Kaliningrad region. This road from Kaliningrad is quite busy, with good coverage, but it is narrow and winding. We begin to encounter famous roads with rows of trees on the sides - “”, in dry and sunny weather the road along them looks very picturesque. At the entrance to the village a mermaid greets you:

Rest in the village of Yantarny, Kaliningrad region

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

Becker Park in Yantarny

Here, on an elevated terrace by the sea, there is a park named after Moritz Becker. Becker is a German, the owner of amber quarries. By his will, in 1881, on the site of the old garden, a park was laid out with linden, maple, oak, chestnut and rare plants, brought specially from Japan and America. Residents and guests of Yantarny walk around the territory of the park (13 hectares). Becker himself was one of the owners of the company Shtantin and Becker, which in the 19th century developed a quarry method for extracting amber. By the way, the park was named in honor of its founder only in 2007, that is, in modern history Russia.

Festival "Amber Beach"

Every summer various exciting events are organized in Yantarny. For example, a couple of days ago (we were in Poland at the time) the Amber Beach electronic music festival took place. Concert pavilions, large screens, campsites, and food courts will be organized on a special territory. Musicians from Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Iceland, etc. performed there. We later talked with the bartender at , 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 lasts three days), it rained heavily in the evening, but none of the spectators were “washed away.” It was all over the next morning.

Amber plant Kaliningrad region

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

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

Enterprise for industrial production amber, was founded in 1947 on the basis of the former Königsberg amber manufactory. On the basis of the German manufactory in Palmnikin, two stone mines were opened - "Henrietta" and "Anna". The Anna mine is also notorious for the fact that Jews who were driven here in 1945 from concentration camps in 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. Already in 1947, the Soviet government took measures to restore production, and in 1948 the first hundred tons of amber were mined! In the 90s, the amber factory changed the status of the enterprise several times and acquired debts. But it seems that the bad times are over, and now the Amber Plant is operating stably and profitably. Now there is a special hall-museum with historical data on amber mining, excursions are held, there is a special excursion to the quarry, where you can watch amber mining. And in October 2016, the first Economic Forum of the amber industry of the Russian Federation will take place in Svetlogorsk, it will be organized by the Amber Plant.

What is amber, how is it formed?

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

About 50 million years ago, some part of the Baltic Sea was dry. Pines grew there, which, unlike modern ones, were more resin-producing. Pines under the influence of special physiological and various other physical - chemical processes resin (resin) was released, which flowed from the trunk and literally formed clusters on the trees. Under the influence of the wind, the trees bent and broke, the resin flowed onto the ground. Or birds, in search of insects, chiseled 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 became crusty. Then there was climate change, global warming, and the collapse of huge glaciers. As a result, part of the land with pieces of amber became the sea.

There are stone deposits in Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Mexico, Azerbaijan, Romania, Sakhalin (!), Japan, and 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 largest places where amber occurs. 90% of the world's amber reserves are mined on its territory, just think about it - 90%! The stone deposits (layers) are located at a depth of fifty meters, the main part of this layer is in the sea, but part of it is on land, on the shore. It was possible to obtain amber both before and now in Yantarny, simply by walking along the shore and picking up pebbles.

Amber mining methods

There were several methods for extracting amber: from simply “catching” pieces with a net from a boat from the depths of the sea to the construction of such unique amber mines or pits. Since the mid-20th century, amber mining has become more technologically advanced. Amber occurs 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 Natural History Museum 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 for a long time in recent years. And the most expensive specimens are inclusions: in the stone there are insects or small animals frozen a huge number of thousands (and maybe millions) of years ago. Supposedly, insects or animals literally stuck to the pieces of resin and remained 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 offshore and coastal areas, and they are processed here in the village at the Yantarny plant. In addition, it is curious that storms carry amber ashore on its own: about two tons washed up in the area of ​​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 are washed out of the sea per year. But, of course, the main part is mined using an industrial, highly mechanized method.

Yantarny is an urban-type settlement located on the Baltic Sea coast. The settlement is famous for the mining and processing of valuable amber. Every traveler after visiting Yantarny can confirm the uniqueness of the place, in which the greatness of nature is felt and excellent facets of history are revealed.

The history of Yantarny goes back more than seven hundred years, and amber mining has been successfully carried out since the 17th century. Traders and landowners could appreciate the rich deposits of valuable amber. Nowadays, many tourists are ready to visit a small urban village in order to make sure that the locality is still unique.

So, what attractions are available to tourists?

The unique museum is located in the central part of Yantarny, or more precisely, in a castle of the 14th century. The castle is part of the Palmniken fortress.

The exhibition is dedicated to the history of the city, as well as the extraction and processing of amber. Some exhibits are dedicated Slavic mythology, superstitions, spirits. Artist exhibitions and music events are regularly held here.

Location: Sovetskaya street - 61a.

Near the Anna mine there is a Monument erected in honor of the fallen concentration camp prisoners. IN war time the prisoners were shot near the mine and thrown into its adits.

The monument represents raised hands carved from granite. The height of the monument reaches seven meters. At the same time, you can see the numbers of the dead prisoners on your hands. Such performance helps every person think about the value of life.

Location: Sovetskaya street.

The amber quarry operates today. The main task is open-pit mining of amber. It is here that about 90 percent of the total volume of amber is mined. Previously, the quarry operated as a narrow-gauge Railway, but now we manage to limit ourselves to road transport. There is an amber factory nearby.

The mermaid in the sea waves is an interesting symbol of the urban village of Yantarny. Object opens border settlement, so every visitor sees a local landmark.

It should be noted that until 1946 Yantarny was called Palmniken (“Swamp Village”). Sculptural composition is an original sign that allows you to navigate the territorial boundaries of Yantarny and find evidence of the rich history of the village.

The building was built in 1892 as an evangelical church. At that time, boulders and figured bricks were used for construction activities. Previously, the church had thematic stained glass windows and an organ. However, valuable exhibits, stained glass windows and an organ, were broken.

In the post-war period, the building was used for a club, a billiard room, and a warehouse. Currently, the temple again performs its original function and was consecrated by the Metropolitan of Kaliningrad and Smolensk, His Eminence Kirill.

Location: Sovetskaya street - 69 a.

Moritz Becker is a famous amber industrialist, thanks to whom the development of amber mining in an urban village became possible.

The park complex was laid out in 1881 on the initiative of Moritz Becker. Gardener Levner was hired to implement the project.

It should be noted that the park was created on the basis of the estate garden. Here we managed to preserve old powerful lindens, poplars, and elms. Moreover, the age of linden trees reaches two hundred years.

From different countries world managed to deliver valuable ornamental plants for the development of the Moritz Becker Park. This move allowed us to diversify the collection of plants, thanks to which many people note the amazing diversity of the park.

As a result, walks around the park complex evoke best experience. The park named after Maurice Becker is located between the Baltic Sea coast and Sovetskaya Street.

Location: Sovetskaya street - 40.

The Amber Pyramid was built in honor of the 65th anniversary of the local plant. The attraction is located on the territory of the plant, 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 is covered with a thick amber layer weighing 500 kilograms.
• The pyramid accommodates 10 – 12 people at a time.

One can imagine how attractive the attraction is for tens of thousands of tourists who want to discover the beneficial effects of real amber.

The amber plant, located in the village of the same name on the Baltic Sea coast, is the largest amber deposit (up to 90 percent of the world's reserves). To produce products, in the summer of 1947, the Kaliningrad plant was created on the basis of the Koenigsberg Amber Factory. In 1951, an art workshop began operating. Products are exported to America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

The museum exhibition includes amazing exhibits created on the basis of amber:

• Watch.
• Paintings.
• Caskets.
• jewelry: beads, pendants, brooches, necklaces.
• Inclusion.
• Souvenir products (figurines of birds and animals).

For creating jewelry and souvenirs in an interesting way the natural form of amber is used, characterized by a rich palette.

Nowadays, the plant produces mass products and offers unique exhibits created on the basis of individual orders.

Location: Balebina street - 1.

One of the most worthy places for a walk is Masters Square. Here you can not only buy paintings, souvenirs, and amber jewelry, but also book an excursion or rent a bicycle. It is not surprising that many tourists try to enjoy a walk on the Masters Square.

Location: Sovetskaya street - 72.

There are beautiful views from the Observation Deck. From here you can see the amber quarry from a height of 50 meters. In addition, you can test yourself in the role of an amber catcher, because in the “mini-quarry” excursionists are engaged in mining on their own. The lucky ones who caught a large number of drops of precious resin, receive the diploma of “Amber Prospector”.

The construction of the water tower dates back to 1920. The height of the object reaches 35 meters, diameter – 11 meters.

In 2006 – 2007, repairs were carried out to restore the facade and roof. In addition, a unique weather vane in the shape of a unicorn was installed. In 2012, the water tower functions for its intended purpose.

Location: Zheleznodorozhnaya street - 2.

Several stairs lead down to the sea, and a wide strip of beach goes beyond the horizon in two directions at once. The length of the promenade reaches two kilometers, and it is created on the basis of Siberian larch. Part of the promenade runs through salt lakes left after the extraction of a unique solar stone.

Every tourist can be convinced that the urban-type settlement of Yantarny still has interesting sights. Such a trip can leave the most vivid impressions, allowing you to believe that there are beautiful places in Russia that will continue to gain popularity.

Location: Park named after. Becker.