Polessk: Labiau Castle and the History of the Town

• Labiau Castle was rebuilt using stone as a building material in 1360.
• Until the end of the Teutonic Order period in Prussian history, Labiau served as a border castle and as a storehouse for food and military equipment.
• The town museum for the history of Polessk District is located in the castle.
• The Museum of the History of the Town of Polessk has around 2,500 exhibits from different periods, including photographs, household and craft items, rare coins, and stone objects.

The year 1360 marks a rebuilding of Labiau Castle using stone as a building material. Its former role went beyond that of a border fortification: until the end of the Teutonic Order period in Prussian history, it also served as a storehouse for food and military equipment. Its construction history and use are two distinct aspects that make the town’s historical significance tangible.

The museum in the castle adds the history of the district and the town of Polessk to this picture. Its around 2,500 exhibits span different periods and range from photographs to household and craft items, rare coins, and stone objects. The collection thus brings together everyday objects with visual and historical artefacts; the approximate number and composition may change.

Three exhibition rooms focus on different themes: “The Origins of East Prussia” features a model of the castle, “East Prussia in the 17th–19th Centuries” covers a later period, and “The 20th Century and the History of the Town of Polessk” focuses on the town’s history. Before your trip, check locally whether the museum is open and which exhibitions are currently on display.

At the level of the wider travel destination of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Curonian Spit is a distinct natural landscape. The sandy peninsula is 98 kilometres long and between 350 metres and 3.8 kilometres wide. It forms a natural barrier between the salty Baltic Sea and the fresh water of the Curonian Lagoon. The cross-border Russian-Lithuanian UNESCO World Heritage Site “Curonian Spit” was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000 in the “Cultural Landscape” category. The national park on the southern half of the spit had already been established on 6 November 1987 by Resolution No. 423; the park’s founding date and its UNESCO inscription are therefore two different historical reference points.

The national park on the Russian part of the Curonian Spit has seven ecological trails and three tourist excursion routes. The six named ecotrails are “Korolevskiy bor” near kilometre 6, “Vysota Myullera” at kilometre 32, “Rossittenskiy les” at kilometre 33, “Tantsuyushchiy les” at kilometre 37, “Vysota Efa” at kilometre 42, and “Ozero Lebed” at kilometre 45. The coniferous forest “Tantsuyushchiy les” is known for its zigzag-shaped, twisted tree trunks. The trail is four kilometres north of the settlement of Rybachiy.

The six named ecotrails are accessible around the clock and year-round; weather or necessary restoration work may lead to temporary closures. The ecotrail “Fringilla” has a different visitor requirement: from April to October, it can only be visited as part of a guided tour with at least ten people. Check current trail information before your visit.

The visitor centre’s opening hours also follow a seasonal schedule: from May to September, it is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. From October to April, it is open five days a week, but closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Confirm the opening hours with the national park before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Saostrovye, Morskoye, Ivashkino, Bolshakovo, Priberezhny, Gvardeyskoye, Mushkino and Chernyakhovsk.

What was Labiau Castle used for in the past?

Until the end of the Teutonic Order period in Prussian history, Labiau served as a border castle and as a storehouse for food and military equipment. In 1360, the castle was rebuilt using stone as a building material.

What can you learn about Polessk at the museum?

The museum has around 2,500 exhibits and three exhibition rooms: one on the origins of East Prussia, featuring a model of the castle; one on East Prussia in the 17th–19th centuries; and one on the 20th century and the history of the town of Polessk. Check which exhibitions are currently on display before your visit.

What is the requirement for visiting the ecotrail “Fringilla”?

From April to October, the trail can only be visited as part of a guided tour with at least ten people.

See the wider travel guide: Kaliningrad Oblast.