Administrative district Zelenogradsky District Area 17 km² Date formed 1252 | Town of district significance Zelenogradsk Local time Sunday 12:37 PM | |
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Urban okrug Zelenogradsky Urban Okrug Weather 17°C, Wind NE at 6 km/h, 63% Humidity Points of interest Murarium, Muzey Cherepov i Skeletov, The hotel "Queen Louise", Water Tower, pamyatnik Semu Simkinu | ||
Zelenogradsk
Zelenogradsk (Russian: Зеленогра́дск ), prior to 1946 known by its German name Cranz, is a town and the administrative center of Zelenogradsky District in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located 34 kilometers (21 mi) north of Kaliningrad, the administrative center of the oblast, on the Sambian coastline near the Curonian Spit on the Baltic Sea. Population: 13,026 (2010 Census); 12,509 (2002 Census); 10,786 (1989 Census).
Contents
- Zelenogradsk
- Map of Zelenogradsk Kaliningradskaya Oblast Russia
- History
- Administrative and municipal status
- Tourism
- Notable people
- Twin towns and sister cities
- References
Map of Zelenogradsk, Kaliningradskaya Oblast, Russia
In its heyday, Zelenogradsk (as Cranz) was a popular seaside resort on Germany's eastern Baltic coast, comparable to Bognor Regis in England. Since the end of World War II and the Soviet takeover, much of its tourist traffic has been diverted to nearby Svetlogorsk, formerly called Rauschen.
History
The site of today's Zelenogradsk was originally an Old Prussian fishing village, in the proximity of Kaup, a Prussian town on the coast of the Baltic Sea in the Viking era. The area became controlled by the Teutonic Order and settled with Germans. The German name Cranz, originally Cranzkuhren, derives from the Old Prussian word krantas, meaning "the coast". For most of its history it remained a small village in East Prussia.
During the 19th century, Cranz became the primary seaside resort for the Kingdom of Prussia on the East Prussian coastline, especially after the construction of a railway line connecting it with Königsberg (now Kaliningrad) in 1885. From 1816 to 1895, it was known as das königliche Bad, or "the royal bathing resort". Despite the increasing numbers of tourists, the fishing industry remained strong; smoked flounder was a regional delicacy. Although Cranz had over 6,000 inhabitants by the start of World War II, it never received a town charter.
The area was overrun by the Soviet Red Army during World War II and annexed to the Russian SFSR, although it suffered minimally through warfare. The German population fled during the evacuation of East Prussia or was subsequently expelled by force. Cranz was renamed Zelenogradsk in 1946 and was granted town status in the subsequent years.
Administrative and municipal status
Within the framework of administrative divisions, Zelenogradsk serves as the administrative center of Zelenogradsky District. As an administrative division, it is incorporated within Zelenogradsky District as the town of district significance of Zelenogradsk.
Within the framework of municipal divisions, since May 15, 2015, the territories of the town of district significance of Zelenogradsk and of four rural okrugs of Zelenogradsky District are incorporated as Zelenogradsky Urban Okrug. Before that, the town of district significance was incorporated within Zelenogradsky Municipal District as Zelenogradskoye Urban Settlement.
Tourism
The tourism industry was neglected during the Cold War and Zelenogradsk's tourism primacy was relinquished to nearby Svetlogorsk (formerly Rauschen). This policy changed in recent years. Zelenogradsk is becoming more popular with Russian vacationers, and many rich Russians own private houses in the area.
Notable people
Twin towns and sister cities
Zelenogradsk is twinned with: