Insterburg Castle

Insterburg Castle is a historical monument of federal significance. It was founded in 1336 by the Master of the Teutonic Order, Dietrich von Altenburg. The castle was built on the place of the hillfort of Unzetrapis destroyed in 1256 during the Order's military campaign for Nadrovia. The castle complex consisted of a citadel and a forburg. The castle served as an outpost of the Teutonic Order in the fight against Lithuania.

After 1525, it was turned into the residence of the Head Office of Insterburg District. It was repeatedly visited by noble persons, and the Swedish Queen, Maria Eleonora, from 1642 lived for a long time in Insterburg Castle, which contributed to the development of the town. After the First World War, a museum of local history of the Insterburg Society of Antiquities was established in the Castle's citadel. 

The castle has reached the present day in a dilapidated state (the citadel after the fire was partially collapsed, a significant part of the castle buildings was dismantled). Only the southern household buildings of the forburg along with the defensive wall are preserved in its original form. The official user of the historical monument of federal significance, Insterburg Castle, is a non-profit organization Foundation House-Castle. The organization carries out cultural, scientific, educational projects, and also approves new forms of activity in the field of youth policy, tourism and initiative leisure.