Description of the attraction
The first and largest fortification of the former fortress city of Konigsberg is Fort No. 3 named after Emperor Frederick III. From the fort, erected in 1879, the construction of twelve main defensive structures, included in the fort belt "Konigsberg's Night Feather", began. The original name of Fort No. 3 was "Kvednau", a little later the building was named after Friedrich Wilhelm I, and in 1894 it was renamed in honor of Frederick III.
Fort # 3 is an elongated hexagon surrounded by a dry moat. The central building housed barracks, a kitchen, a dining room, an infirmary, food and ammunition depots, a boiler room and auxiliary premises. On both sides of the building there are courtyards, which at one time served as transport interchanges. All the premises of the fort are connected by porches, and between the floors - by spiral and marching staircases. The defensive structure has underground casemates with vaulted ceilings made of high-strength (repeatedly fired) ceramic bricks. The architects of the building provided for complete life support in the form of natural ventilation, water supply, power supply, sewerage and heating systems through heating channels inside the walls.
During the assault on Konigsberg (1945), the fort of Frederick III was slightly damaged and in the post-war years was used as a warehouse for military equipment and ammunition. In March 2007, the defensive structure received the status of a cultural heritage site (of regional importance).
Fort No. 3 is considered one of the best preserved historical fortifications in Kaliningrad. Nowadays, restoration work is underway in the central building of the historical building, and after researchers discovered exhibits of the Prussia Museum (disbanded before World War II) in the underground casemates, excavations are underway in the fort. Found items (more than 10 thousand) are presented in the exposition of the Historical and Art Museum.
