Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad Oblast

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Svetlogorsk, prior to 1945 known by its German name Rauschen (Audio-ru|Светлого́рск|RU-Svetlogorsk.ogg; Audio-de|Rauschen|Rauschen.ogg; _pl. Ruszowice; _lt. Raušiai) is a town on the coast of the Baltic Sea in Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast. It is situated on the Sambian Peninsula and is a popular coastal resort. Population: 10,950 (2002 Census).

History

Svetlogorsk is situated in the historical region Sambia 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 prettified. 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.

Transport

Svetlogorsk is connected with Kaliningrad, 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.

External links

* [http://www.bifc.balticfair.com/eng/map_svetlogorsk.htm History of Svetlogorsk]

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