Amber Museum (Dohna Tower) (Kaliningrad)

 tower, museum, fortification, listed building / architectural heritage, historic landmark, object of cultural heritage of federal importance (Russia)

Architects: Engineer-Hauptmann and Director of Fortress Construction Irfügelbrecht, and Engineer-Lieutenant von Heil from Königsberg.

Construction of this tower, named after German Field Marshal Friedrich Karl von Dohna who fought against Napoleon, began in 1626 (the main phase was in the mid-19th century), and was effectively completed in 1945. On the morning of April 10, 1945, a red flag raised atop the tower signaled the capture of Königsberg by Soviet forces. (A memorial plaque commemorating this event is mounted on the wall.)

From the water side, the Dohna Tower closely resembles the Wrangel Tower; their floor plans are almost identical.

Thanks to its use as a museum, the tower is open to the public. It is worth describing the entrance: visitors approach the entrance through a guard courtyard, open on three sides and surrounded by walls, which is protected by rifle loopholes. The wide gate in the center retains its original shape. Through this gate, one enters a small courtyard where weapons could once be stored, and from which there was access to military storage facilities in the basement. From this courtyard, there is no exit to the outside — only passage into the tower through the gate located opposite the entrance. The floors of the tower are connected by staircases in the same manner as in the Wrangel Tower.

The tower is in good condition, at least externally, but during reconstruction the earthen embankment was removed from the roof.

After 1945, the Dohna Tower had no permanent owners — it was used at various times for storing packaging materials and bulk goods, and was later transferred as a warehouse to the military trade organization (Voentorg), serving as warehouse complex No. 4.

Work to establish the museum began in 1972. On December 29, 1979, the Amber Museum opened its doors to the public.

The museum's exhibition inside the tower is skillfully arranged in the former gun embrasure niches. The magnificent red brick vaults provide a worthy setting for the exhibition spaces.

Website: www.ambermuseum.ru