Laukischken Castle in Saranskoye

(54.831035, 21.234073)

Laukischken Castle was first mentioned in 1258 after the division of Sambia between the Order and the bishop. The Order’s castle of Laukischken (Laucken) was probably founded around 1260 or just after the second Prussian rebellion (circa 1270). By that time, the conquering of Nadrovia had begun and the Order needed a bridgehead on the right bank of the Labe River. The castle was probably more important than Labiau at the start, so it had been rebuilt in stone by 1327. From1390, a chamberlain was located there. It most likely lost its importance because of the change of the riverbed by order of Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen.

After secularization in 1525 it was used as a «hunting lodge». The bison were frequent visitors at that time. In 1581–1584, the castle was rebuilt by Duke Georg Friedrich and named Friedrichsburg. Afterwards, the duke gave an audience to the Swedish ambassador in the castle. Having been rebuilt several times, the castle existed as a knight’s manor. At the end of the 19th century, it belonged to the wealthy von Biberstein family.

After the war the building was in a good condition. With the arrival of Soviet immigrants, it was rebuilt into a school. One more room was added to the northern side of the old building. The building is still used as a school today.

D. I. Veber

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