Centuries of conquest and rule by the Order of German Knights left a great heritage of medieval castle architecture in Northeast Prussia.

Unfortunately its most famous example, Königsberg Castle, was completely demolished after the war. On its site, the construction of the Kaliningrad Council House was then started – but never finished because of structural deficiencies. (Actually worsened by the instability of remaining subterranean fragments of castle fundament.) Many other castles suffered extensive war damage or neglect.

   Castle ruins of Balga/Vesyoloe on the Frisches Haff/Prochladnoe Zaliv. Built in 1270-90 on the site of the Pruzzian fortress Honeda, which the German Knights conquered in 1239, it is one of the oldest in Prussia.

   Already partially ruined before the war, it has now lost its characteristic watchtower but is still one of the most romantic ruins of Prussia.

   A small monument to those who have fallen in Balga.

   The village of Balga has disappeared; beside the castle only the ruins of the 14th century church remain.

   The church portal

   One of the saddest sights in Northeast Prussia: the truncated remains of Labiau Castle/Polessk.

   Founded in 1255, it was one of the most impressive castles of Prussia. It withstood the war almost undamaged, only to fall prey to a fire in the sixties.

   The massive ruins of the Ordensburg at Ragnit/Neman, founded 1289 on the Memel river east of Tilsit as Burg Landeshut, are well hidden behind some decidedly uninteresting post-war architecture.

   The inner court of Ragnit Castle. Used as a prison before the war, it was ruined during heavy fighting in 1944.

   Possibly the best-preserved medieval castle in Northeast Prussia:
The Georgenburg/Mayovka, on the banks of the river Inster near Insterburg/Chernyakhovsk, was built around 1350 by the Bishop of Samland.

   Most of the Georgenburg is now divided up and used as living quarters.

   Although most of the castle still stands, there are some ruined parts too.

   Directly behind the old castle one finds extensive 19th century stables. These are now used for raising thoroughbred Hannoveraner, Holsteiner and Trakehner horses.

   The stud farm “Kaliningradsky” in Georgenburg/Mayovka is a joint German-Russian initiative.

   The castle ruin of Saalau/Kamenskoe, about halfway between Wehlau/Znamensk and Insterburg/Chernyakhovsk.

   Saalau Castle, view from inside.

   Castle of Waldau/Nizove. Built in 1267, it now houses a polytechnic highschool.

   Bust of Mikhail Ivanovitch Kalinin, in the castle court of Waldau.