Tilzit Castle

The Tilzit Castle is located in the Kaliningrad region, in the city of Sovetsk (until 1946 — the city of Tilzit).

In 1289, at the mouth of the Tilze (Tilzha) River, on its left bank, on the site of a destroyed fortified Prussian settlement, the Landmeister of the Teutonic Order, Meinhard von Querfurt, founded Tilzit Castle.

Tilzit Castle is mentioned in the Order’s chronicles in 1385 as a starting point for campaigns into Lithuania, and in 1404 as a border fortress. By order of the Grand Master Konrad von Jungingen, from 1405 to 1409, Tilzit Castle was rebuilt in stone. From the north, east, and south, Tilzit Castle was surrounded by the Memel River and flooded areas; on the west side, there was a foreburg behind a moat, in front of which was another wide water-filled moat.

According to surviving plans by Kolas (1700), drawings by Countess Dona (circa 1820), and Giese (1826–1828), it can be concluded that the castle had a rectangular courtyard surrounded by walls, with the main wing facing the Memel River. On the courtyard side, there was a massive two-story gallery with ribbed vaults. Later, a western utility wing and a narrow building were added to the eastern wall of the castle, probably a stable. The southern wall featured a large semicircular tower over 15 meters high (about 20 meters with the roof) and 31 meters in circumference. The gates were located in the western part of the castle, connected by a drawbridge over the moat to the foreburg. All buildings were constructed on foundations of fieldstone, with walls made of fired bricks decorated with diamond-shaped patterns. The main wing was traditionally divided into three floors: the first, main, and defensive. The original layout of the interior rooms is difficult to determine due to numerous later reconstructions. On the third floor under the high roof was a uniform row of embrasures; on the first floor, a small door led to the river. The main entrance to the castle was in the western wing. The long-preserved brick-paved arch suggests the existence of a stone bridge that also functioned as a dam. There is no information about buildings within the foreburg. The overall appearance reflected the architectural style of the early 15th century.

The castle was built as a border fortress to protect the Teutonic Order’s frontiers from Lithuanian raids. It belonged to the Komturship of Ragnit. Initially, it was intended to replace the Kaustritten Castle, burned by Lithuanians, located 4 kilometers to the east. The site was chosen deliberately: from the elevation on the left bank of the Neman River, the surrounding area could be observed from a very long distance.

First mentioned in the Teutonic Order’s chronicles in 1385. It was founded in 1404 at the confluence of the Tilzha River into the Memel; by the end of that year, the site was prepared for further construction. Grand Master Konrad von Jungingen invited an experienced stonemason, Hannus Bolle from Danzig, to build the castle. A contract between them dated December 26, 1406, has been preserved. The construction was supervised by the Order’s architect Nikolaus von Vellenstein. The external walls were completed in 1408, and the entire construction was finished by 1410. In February 1411, the castle was heavily damaged by the Samogitians, who killed two Order brothers and seven Prussians; the fortress itself was considerably burned and looted but was soon repaired. A Prussian settlement arose under the castle’s protection, later becoming a town.

After the secularization of the Order into a duchy, the castle’s custodian position was held by a burgrave, later a district chief. In 1537, by personal order of Duke Albrecht, finishing works were carried out in the castle. Utility buildings and storage facilities were built nearby. A dam was constructed, the Tilzit stream became a pond, and the duke ordered a water mill to be built there.

In 1670–1671, the outdated defensive structures of the castle were replaced with new bastions, and embankments for artillery were arranged around the castle. In 1738, a stone bridge was built over the moat. In 1795, the commander of a dragoon regiment lived in the castle.

After the castle lost its strategic importance, it was sold in 1805 at auction to six Tilzit merchants for 16,500 thalers. For some time, the castle housed a casino, then the Masonic lodge "Irene," and the city court. In 1842, the building was used as a timber warehouse. Steam-powered butter churn and steam mill found shelter within its walls. According to 1844 data, a machine-building factory was established there. In 1873, a paper factory was put into operation, which burned down three years later.

After the fire, the castle turned into ruins, which, along with the territory, passed to the Kaiser family, who built a lime production plant on the site. The underground corridors were used as combustion chambers (furnaces). In 1926, a tall brick chimney was built, which has survived to this day.

After 1945, Tilzit Castle was also used for lime production and firing, but by the late 1980s, it was abandoned.

By the beginning of the 21st century, only the remains of the main wing’s walls and the rebuilt western annex of Tilzit Castle have partially survived.

Sources:

https://kenigo.ru/galereya/zamok-tilzit/

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Замок_Тильзит