Kneiphof

Kneiphof is a historic district and the central island of Königsberg, located in the Pregel River in what is today Kaliningrad, Russia. Together with Altstadt and Löbenicht, it formed one of the city’s three main quarters. The island is also known as Dominsel, or Cathedral Island, because the Königsberg Cathedral sits on its northern end and has long been a focal point of the city’s religious and scholarly life.

Historically, Kneiphof developed from a medieval town and was incorporated into Königsberg in the late Middle Ages. The Königsberg Cathedral, begun in the 14th century, dominates the island’s landscape. The University of Königsberg (Albertina), founded in 1544, had strong ties to the area, and the philosopher Immanuel Kant is buried in the cathedral. The island also housed other religious and educational institutions and served as a center for administration and culture in the city.

In the 20th century, Königsberg suffered extensive damage during World War II, and after the war the city became part of the Soviet Union as Kaliningrad. The German population was expelled, and much of Kneiphof’s historic fabric was altered or destroyed. In the postwar period the cathedral was partially restored, and Dominsel has been developed as a historic and cultural site within Kaliningrad. Today Kneiphof remains a key element of the city’s heritage, attracting visitors to the cathedral, Kant’s tomb, and the surrounding historic precinct.