Yantarny resort village: how to get there, where to live, what to eat and souvenirs. Amber region: two excursions and one amber museum

Story Yantarny village on the shore Baltic Sea, of course, is most closely associated 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.

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 village of 4 courtyards was firmly entrenched German title Palmniken (German Palmnicken), 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 the railway from Fischhausen (now Primorsk) was laid, and divers were attracted to the extraction from the sea, and a quite respectable history 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 Walther 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 Anna mine in the history of the 20th century is the Amber Room hidden in its bowels (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.

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

Sovetskaya Street - the former Hauptstrasse - has always been the focus of the best houses in the village, built mostly for the company's managers, 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.

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 of the championship of Russia 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 wooden flooring, benches, observation decks along the coast, with stairs leading to the sea or the city - is 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 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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On Friday, August 01, before lunch, we left the hotel "Tourist" in Kaliningrad on a sightseeing bus. We waited a bit on the sofas in the hall, leafing through advertising magazines. The weather was cloudy, the clouds swirled in the sky:

A typical road in the Kaliningrad region - in Prussia, so to speak, looks like this:

Two-track with trees on the sides, which are closed over the asphalt with a tent and a field around.
Along the way, on wooden electric poles, there were nests of storks.
The photo below is a real pair of storks, not a cardboard-plastic dummy:

An hour or so later, we arrived at Yantarny. Auntie at the barrier opened the passage with a habitual movement. But it is now - so, and a few years ago everything was different - almost the children were searched from the inside by dogs.
First of all, we came to look at the observation platform near the quarry. Nearby, a wooden pyramid sprinkled with amber crumbs. You can come in and make a wish.

Due to frequent use, in my opinion, the "executor" fails:

And here is the panorama of the amber quarry itself:

Without binoculars, the movement in the quarry cannot be seen, and there was not much of it on Friday. Nearby there is a "children's" sandbox, in which a mining bucket is placed in the corner. Inside there are scoops and, most importantly, real amber. An hour on the spot was spent something like this: 10 minutes of excursion and 45 minutes of searching for amber.

In this photo, red ellipses show amber pebbles. Here are 6 of them:

Everyone who was at the quarry was awarded certificates of "honorary amber miner", and then we went to, in fact, the city itself. In German "Palmniken", it was formed by amber miners, and "untwisted" thanks to the amber mines. The local merchant Becker dominated there. Maurice Becker and his large Evangelical Church:

Tourist map of the city of Amber on the stand and photos below:

Various interesting installations have been installed on the "central" trading area of ​​Yantarny. Fur-lined bike:

A shop with a black sun flag and a painted clock "City of Masters":

Glass gazebo in the courtyard of an elite hotel, behind a fence:

Like elephant legs, beeches stand nearby in the park:

And we observe the wedding ceremony and go to the sea along the ladder. Bathe.

Here it is, a wooden ladder, but here it is - the sea! It is a pity that the cat cried in the changing cabins, but this time the water was warmer than in Svetlogorsk.

Back to trading area. Wooden train as a stand for flowers:

More flowers in a pot:

We went on foot in the direction of travel, then crossed the road and went to the new building-castle. They were not allowed to take pictures inside (and, in general, there was just a large store selling amber trinkets and an art gallery on the 1st floor), went outside. Nearby stands an abandoned stable with a slate roof broken in several places:

We got on the bus and drove a few more kilometers. There is no Jewish conspiracy, but we were told a terrible story from the time of the 2nd World War, how the Germans drove a couple of thousand Jews to the beach, and then instead of bathing they took them and shot them. The local Izya put three hands reaching out to God on the shore - but, apparently, the signal from here took a long time to reach the addressee, so what happened happened. There was nothing else to see here, the mines were never shown to us ...

Fearfully approaching the edge of the cliff, reinforced with concrete, I looked down and thought - why include this in the excursion program?

We got on the bus and drove back to Kaliningrad.
There we were dropped off at the mall, we stocked up on dinner and went to the hotel...

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 amber fishing was already the main source of income even then. 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.

Amber is one of the most beautiful and cozy places 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 the processing of a valuable mineral and the manufacture of 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 to professional architects, but also to 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.

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. Most interesting exhibit museum - an amber pyramid as tall as a human being.

IN museum complex"Amber Castle" is an original "Museum of Russian Superstitions". 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.

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 the 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 tower is 35 meters high and 11 meters in diameter. 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 water tower of Palmniken has received the status of a cultural heritage site. local importance and taken under guard.

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 Soviet soldiers killed in the vicinity of Yantarny during the Second World War.

More than 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.

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 cairn, on which there 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.

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.

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 of 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 .

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 this one was laid out and now beautiful park. 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. landscape design originality and extraordinary 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.

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 side there are 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.

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.

Address: Kaliningrad region settlement Yantarny, st. Soviet, 72

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

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 the settlement is still unique.

So, what attractions are available to tourists?

The unique museum is located in the central part of Yantarny, or rather, in the castle of the XIV century. The castle is part of the Palmniken fortress.

The exposition is devoted to the history of the city, as well as to the extraction and processing of amber. Some exhibits are devoted to Slavic mythology, superstitions, spirits. It regularly hosts exhibitions of artists and musical events.

Location: Sovetskaya street - 61a.

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.

The monument is a raised hand carved from granite. The height of the monument reaches seven meters. At the same time, the numbers of the dead prisoners can be seen on the hands. Such a performance contributes to the fact that each person thinks about the value of life.

Location: Soviet street.

The amber quarry operates today. The main task is the extraction of amber in an open way. It is here that about 90 percent of the total volume of amber is mined. Previously, a narrow-gauge railway worked in the quarry Railway, but now it is possible to limit by car. Nearby is an amber plant.

A mermaid in the sea waves is an interesting symbol of the Yantarny urban-type settlement. The object opens the border of the settlement, so every visitor sees the local landmark.

It should be noted that until 1946 Yantarny was called Palmniken (“Swamp Village”). The sculptural composition is an original sign that allows you to orient yourself with the territorial boundaries of Yantarny and find confirmation rich history village.

The building was built in 1892 as an evangelical church. At that time, boulders and figured bricks were used for construction activities. Previously, thematic stained-glass windows and an organ were installed in the church. 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. At present, 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 well-known amber manufacturer, thanks to whom the development of amber mining in an urban-type settlement became possible.

The park complex was laid out in 1881 on the initiative of Moritz Becker. The gardener Levner was involved in the implementation of the project.

It should be noted that 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.

It was possible to deliver valuable ornamental plants from different countries of the world for the development of the Moritz Becker Park. Such a move made it possible to diversify the collection of plants, thanks to which many people note the amazing diversity of the park.

As a result, walking through the park complex causes best experience. Maurice Becker Park is located between the coast of the Baltic Sea, as well as 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 features are amazing:

• Height - 3.3 meters.
• Surface area - 25 square meters.
• Facing each of the four walls with a thick layer of amber weighing 500 kilograms.
• The pyramid can accommodate 10 - 12 people at the same time.

You 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 factory, located in the village of the same name on the coast of the Baltic Sea, is the largest amber deposit (up to 90 percent of the world's reserves). For the production of products in the summer of 1947, on the basis of the Koenigsberg amber factory, it was possible to create Kaliningrad Combine. In 1951, an art workshop began to operate. Products are exported to America, Europe, Asia, Middle East.

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

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

To create jewelry and souvenirs, the natural form of amber, which is distinguished by its rich palette, is used in an interesting way.

Today, 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 walking 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.

Location: Sovetskaya street - 72.

WITH observation platform open great views. From here you can see the amber quarry from a height of 50 meters. In addition, you can try yourself in the role of an amber catcher, because in the “mini-career” the tourists are engaged in mining on their own. The lucky ones who caught a large number of drops of precious resin, receive a diploma of "Amber Prospector".

Construction water tower refers 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 form of a unicorn was installed. In 2012, the water tower functions for its intended purpose.

Location: Zheleznodorozhnaya street - 2.

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 reaches two kilometers, and it was 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 Yantarny urban-type settlement still has interesting sights. Such a journey can leave the most vivid impressions, allowing you to believe that in Russia there are beautiful corners which will continue to gain popularity.

Location: Park them. Becker.

Actually west coast Russia, or rather the Kaliningrad region, is small in size, but absolutely a unique village beautiful name Amber. 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. For starters, Becker completely destroyed the old medieval castle Palmniken and built a modern mansion in its place. Around the house, on the site of an old garden, an impressive park was laid out in 1881, with total area more than twelve hectares, in which, in addition to the existing ones, many rare, and sometimes 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. January 31 - February 1, 1945, presumably in the area of ​​​​the abandoned mine Anna ( exact location 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 after a few days 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 7,000 victims of the Holocaust 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 Combine 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 wood figurines of brownies, water goblins and other mythical characters with a brief description of who they are and how they help or harm people. There is also a hall dedicated to amber in the museum, 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 drugs 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. Completes natural beauty this place is big 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 walkway made of durable Siberian larch with viewing platforms, laid along the sea coast from the descent to the sea in Bekker 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 each summer season Yantarny hosts qualifying rounds for the Russian Championship and international tournaments in beach football, beach volleyball, 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 all the necessary 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 is the annual international festival spiritual and folk-patriotic song "Peter and Paul Meetings in Yantarny", and international music Festival 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