Sovetsk

Sovetsk is a border town on the south side of the Neman River in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia. The town sits at an elevation of 10 meters and forms the natural boundary between Russia and Lithuania.

The town was founded in 1288 around a Teutonic Knights castle called Schalauer Haus. It gained importance when the Treaties of Tilsit were signed there in 1807 between Napoleon and the Russian and Prussian monarchs.

The buildings show Germanic architectural features from the time when the town was known as Tilsit until 1945. Streets and squares preserve a cityscape that reminds visitors of the earlier identity.

The Queen Louise Bridge connects the town to Lithuania and serves as a border crossing for travelers between the two countries. The river provides orientation through the town, which extends along its southern shore.

This regional center maintains traditions of cheese production following methods from its time as Tilsit, the original home of Tilsit cheese. Local producers still use techniques passed down through generations.

Location: city district of Sowetsk

Inception: 1288

Elevation above the sea: 10 m

Website: https://sovetsk.gov39.ru

GPS coordinates: 55.08083,21.88639

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:53