Saalau Castle in Kamenskoye

(54.655705, 21.550308)

The castle was established, like many others, on the site of an earlier Prussian stronghold. The Order’s knights seized and burnt the Prussian stronghold of Vostopolo during an attack on Nadrovia in 1276. In 1325, following the division of the territory, part of the land was ceded to the bishop of Sambo, who gave part of it to the cathedral chapter.

As Lithuanians became more active, in 1352 it was decided to build a castle on a hill near a stream in the north of the Pregel (now Pregolya) on the site of a former Prussian stronghold. Three years later the castle was already functioning as a part of the Sambian cathedral chapter. A little later a small settlement was formed nearby.

In the summer of 1376, the castle was seized and ruined by Keistut’s detachment, but it was soon rebuilt.

After the secularisation of the Order, the castle and the amt Saalau were handed over to the canons that stayed in Königsberg, but due to permanent financial problems, the castle was mortgaged. In the 19th century the castle became a royal household. The Amtmann resided in the main building as late as 1900. A cheese dairy was located in the cellars and there was a brewery and distillery in the northern section.

The castle has remained unused and has been crumbling since 1945 and is now in ruins.

D. I. Veber

Photos

Tags: castles and fortresses, 13 century, Teutonic Order (Prussia), The ways of the Teutonic knights: Prussia in the 13th century, Teutonic knights