Chernyakhovsk

Chernyakhovsk is a town in western Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, where the Instruch and Angrapa rivers meet to form the Pregolya. The settlement spreads across both riverbanks and several bridges connect the old center with newer residential neighborhoods.

The Teutonic Knights founded a castle on the site of an Old Prussian fort in 1337 and named it Insterburg. After World War Two in 1946, the place was renamed and the German-speaking population was replaced by Russian settlers.

The town carries the name of General Ivan Chernyakhovsky, who died during the final weeks of fighting in East Prussia in 1945 at the age of thirty-eight. Visitors today notice the Russian Orthodox church and the memorial on the central square, where locals sometimes place flowers.

The town sits on the railway line between Kaliningrad and the Russian capital and is connected to both destinations by regular trains. Visitors find several lodging options in the center and can explore the surrounding area on foot or by local bus.

The surrounding forests and fields of the district still shelter moose and other large animals, which sometimes wander close to the town edge. Some cobblestone sections from the German period remain on streets in the old center.

Location: Chernyakhovsky District

Inception: 1336

Elevation above the sea: 30 m

Website: http://inster39.ru

GPS coordinates: 54.63333,21.81667

Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:33