al estate in the city. The House of Soviets was built in the place of a 13th century castle, around which the city of Konigsberg, originally three separate towns, grew. The castle was destroyed by the Kremlin in 1968, despite numerous letters of protest. Severely damaged during WWII air raids, the castle could have been restored, but was dubbed by the Soviet authorities as a symbol of fascism and Prussian militarism. The House of Soviets was designed as its replacement to be the centrepiece of the new ideal socialist city called Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad, Russian Federation. 2001. © Peter Marlow | Magnum Photos

and the fanciest hotels in the Kaliningrad region. Svetlogorsk, formerly called Rauschen, was one of the only towns in the whole of East Prussia to come out of the war virtually unscathed. The town boasts impressive architecture, tree-lined streets, a beautiful water tower, and the largest sun-dial in Europe. Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad, Russian Federation. 2001. © Peter Marlow | Magnum Photos

uins until 1991, when the reconstructed building opened again as the regional Museum of History and Art. A brief exhibition traces the history of Konigsberg and the natural history of the region including a fascinating display on a recent archaeological dig. The most interesting display, covering the transformation of the city from 1945-1950, is obscurely confined to a back room. The second floor is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War (or WWII). Kaliningrad, Russian Federation. 2001. © Peter Marlow | Magnum Photos

s numerous photographs and graphic dioramas of street battles. Visitors can also see room 13, where von Lasch signed the German capitulation. Another room offers souvenirs, surprisingly not war-time memorabilia, but amber and ceramic items. There are some explanations in English and German and the staff speak German well. The Bunker Museum is located in front of Kaliningrad University across from the Kant memorial. The bunker served as the underground command post of German General Otto von Lasch during the war. Kaliningrad, Russian Federation. 2001. © Peter Marlow | Magnum Photos

opening of the university here on August 17, 1544. The museum in the church gives a peek into the area's former life. Unfortunately, the inside of the church is overtaken by scaffolding as a long renovation continues. However, after more than fifty years, the Cathedral’s bells once again toll across the Kneiphof island in the Pregolya river. In 1995 a clock and four bells were returned to the 14th-century Gothic cathedral, restoring life to the proud church where the Prussian kings were once crowned - the structure was burnt to the ground during wartime bombing and completely neglected afterwards. So far three of the bells have names: Alexander the Great, Alexander Nevsky and Kneiphof. The nameless fourth bell is still waiting for some benefactor to come along and finish the restoration. The clock itself is the work of the German Harald Gotz from Fulda. It differs slightly from the original in that it's run by computer. Thanks to war and Soviet planning the Kneiphof is now a favourite spot for afternoon strolls and fishing. Kaliningrad, Russian Federation. 2001. © Peter Marlow | Magnum Photos