Description of the attraction
In the suburbs of Kaliningrad, near the village of Maloe Isakovo, there is the mighty Fort No. 1, named after the famous politician - Baron Heinrich von Stein. The massive military structure was built in 1875-1879 and was one of the twelve forts that make up the defensive belt "Konigsberg's Night Feather".
Fort No. 1 is an elongated hexagonal structure made of brick and concrete, surrounded by a moat that reaches a depth of more than five meters. The three-level bastion had all the necessary communications in the form of steam heating, sewerage, water supply and energy supply. Also on the territory of the fort were located two courtyards, a drawbridge (on the rear side), and on the third level there was a six-meter earthen rampart with equipped trenches and firing positions for artillery guns.
Initially, the fort was named Laut because of its proximity to the German settlement of Lauther (original name - Stein am Lauther Muhlenteich). In 1894, the fort was named after a German figure of the early nineteenth century - Heinrich Friedrich Karl von Stein (the image of the imperial baron can be seen on a Prussian five-mark coin).
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the fortification was modernized. During the assault on Koenigsberg (April 1945), the Stein Fort was not a direct threat to the Soviet army, since it was in secondary positions and was taken without a fight. The last German commandant of the fort, Major Vogel, was shot by his own sergeant for refusing to surrender.
In the post-war period, the fort was occupied by a vegetable base, which was disbanded in the early nineties. In 1994, the Lorushonis family moved to the territory of the defensive structure, at the same time organizing a charitable foundation of the same name, which is engaged in the protection and restoration of the cultural appearance of the fort. In the course of many years of restoration work, an exposition of ancient weapons, decorative and building materials, household items of the former owners of the defensive structure was formed.
Today, the unique sight of the fortified city of Konigsberg is an architectural monument and has the status of a cultural heritage site (of regional significance). Guided tours of the fort and the museum.
