Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad Oblast
Encyclopedia
Svetlogorsk prior to 1945 known by its German name Rauschen, is a coastal resort
town and the administrative center of Svetlogorsky District of Kaliningrad Oblast
, Russia
, located on the coast of the Baltic Sea
on the Sambian Peninsula
. Population:
of East Prussia
. A Sambian
fishermen settlement named Ruse-moter (translated as 'region of cellars') at the place of Svetlogorsk was first mentioned in 1258. The Teutonic Order that conquered the land gradually corrupted the name into Rause-moter, Raushe-moter, and finally Rauschen.
In the early 19th century, the place became fashionable among German
vacationers. On June 24, 1820 it was officially recognized as a spa town
. During his visit to Rauschen in 1840, King Frederick William IV of Prussia
ordered the sea embankment to be beautified. The arrival of the Königsberg
railway in 1900 boosted the resort's popularity. A cable railway and a racecourse were constructed in Rauschen before World War I
. Carl Otto Nicolai
and Thomas Mann
were among the celebrities who stayed there.
In 1945 Rauschen was conquered by the Soviet Union
after World War II
. It became part of the Kaliningrad Oblast and in 1946 the town was renamed to Svetlogorsk. Today it is a moderately popular summer resort town thanks to its beachfront and many spas, clubs and attractions.
, Zelenogradsk
, and Pionersky
by electrified railway (3000 V DC). Svetlogorsk has two railway stations: Svetlogorsk-1 and Svetlogorsk-2 (terminus).
There are many private companies that operate buses between Svetlogorsk and Kaliningrad.
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
town and the administrative center of Svetlogorsky District of Kaliningrad Oblast
Kaliningrad Oblast
Kaliningrad Oblast is a federal subject of Russia situated on the Baltic coast. It has a population of The oblast forms the westernmost part of the Russian Federation, but it has no land connection to the rest of Russia. Since its creation it has been an exclave of the Russian SFSR and then the...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, located on the coast of the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
on the Sambian Peninsula
Sambia
Sambia or Samland is a peninsula in the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia, on the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea. The Curonian Lagoon and the Vistula Lagoon demarcate the peninsula. Prior to 1945 it formed an important part of East Prussia.-Names:Sambia is named after the Sambians, an extinct...
. Population:
History
Svetlogorsk is situated in the historical region SambiaSambia
Sambia or Samland is a peninsula in the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia, on the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea. The Curonian Lagoon and the Vistula Lagoon demarcate the peninsula. Prior to 1945 it formed an important part of East Prussia.-Names:Sambia is named after the Sambians, an extinct...
of East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
. A Sambian
Sambians
The Sambians were one of the Prussian tribes. They inhabited the peninsula of Sambia, north of the city of Königsberg . Sambians were located in a coastal territory rich in amber and engaged in trade early on . Therefore, they established contacts with foreign nations before any other Prussians...
fishermen settlement named Ruse-moter (translated as 'region of cellars') at the place of Svetlogorsk was first mentioned in 1258. The Teutonic Order that conquered the land gradually corrupted the name into Rause-moter, Raushe-moter, and finally Rauschen.
In the early 19th century, the place became fashionable among German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
vacationers. On June 24, 1820 it was officially recognized as a spa town
Spa town
A spa town is a town situated around a mineral spa . Patrons resorted to spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. The word comes from the Belgian town Spa. In continental Europe a spa was known as a ville d'eau...
. During his visit to Rauschen in 1840, King Frederick William IV of Prussia
Frederick William IV of Prussia
|align=right|Upon his accession, he toned down the reactionary policies enacted by his father, easing press censorship and promising to enact a constitution at some point, but he refused to enact a popular legislative assembly, preferring to work with the aristocracy through "united committees" of...
ordered the sea embankment to be beautified. The arrival of the Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
railway in 1900 boosted the resort's popularity. A cable railway and a racecourse were constructed in Rauschen before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Carl Otto Nicolai
Carl Otto Nicolai
Carl Otto Ehrenfried Nicolai was a German composer, conductor, and founder of the Vienna Philharmonic. Nicolai is best known for his operatic version of Shakespeare's comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor...
and Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann was a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, and 1929 Nobel Prize laureate, known for his series of highly symbolic and ironic epic novels and novellas, noted for their insight into the psychology of the artist and the intellectual...
were among the celebrities who stayed there.
In 1945 Rauschen was conquered by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It became part of the Kaliningrad Oblast and in 1946 the town was renamed to Svetlogorsk. Today it is a moderately popular summer resort town thanks to its beachfront and many spas, clubs and attractions.
Transport
Svetlogorsk is connected with KaliningradKaliningrad
Kaliningrad is a seaport and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea...
, Zelenogradsk
Zelenogradsk
Zelenogradsk, is a town and the administrative center of Zelenogradsky District of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, Located on the Sambian coastline near the Curonian Spit on the Baltic Sea...
, and Pionersky
Pionersky, Kaliningrad Oblast
Pionersky is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located along the Baltic Sea on the Sambian Peninsula, between Zelenogradsk and Svetlogorsk. The town is under direct jurisdiction of the oblast administration. Population:...
by electrified railway (3000 V DC). Svetlogorsk has two railway stations: Svetlogorsk-1 and Svetlogorsk-2 (terminus).
There are many private companies that operate buses between Svetlogorsk and Kaliningrad.