Houses and Architecture in Svetlogorsk.
Svetlogorsk or Rauchen as it was previously known, is a picturesque town at the Baltic coast, not very far from Kaliningrad City. It is one of my favorite places in the Kaliningrad Oblast Province and a 45 minute train ride from Kaliningrad. It is the ideal place to visit for the day. We often visited Svetlogorsk during our three month stay in Russia and the houses in particular fascinated me.
On one such a visit we decided to walk through the neighborhood and look at the houses. I immediately noticed the beautiful lush gardens, tall trees with flowers everywhere. People living here take great pride in their gardens and it shows. I didn`t see one house with an unkempt garden.
Houses in Svetlogorsk.
I mentioned earlier that I found the houses and architecture very interesting. They had a distinct German influence and this is due to the fact that Svetlogorsk was previously a German town but after World War II became the property of Russia. Many of the new houses have been built in a modern style that blends in beautifully with the older houses.
Some of them have been painted in bright colors and others are left in their natural state with rusty bricks. Most of the houses looked like small mansions with balconies and tower windows. Other house owners clearly wanted more privacy and had their windows tinted. Many of the houses have been turned into Hotels or guesthouses.
Svetlogorsk is becoming more and more popular each year. I was amazed to see so much development since our last visit in 2008. Many new buildings have been constructed and huge complexes are being built. I guess a lot of people are looking for weekend homes away from the city life. I can just imagine what this pretty town will look like when we visit again.
Nevertheless, I loved walking in the tranquil neighborhood. It gave me a great sense of peace and calmness.
What do you think about the architecture and the building style? Do you like it?
Where: Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russian Federation
When: May to August 2012
