Astronomical Bastion

In 1809, the University of Königsberg invited the founder of the observatory, Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel, to work. In November 1813, under his leadership, the Astronomical Bastion was built on the Butterberg Hill. The building consisted of three parts and housed the latest equipment of that time, including instruments for determining the exact position of celestial bodies and a telescope with a lens system. The observatory also included a library with 2,650 volumes. Thanks to the bastion, Königsberg became one of the centers for studying astronomy. Today, the museum-theater "Legends of the Old City" is located here, with exhibitions presenting ancient legends of East Prussia and Königsberg, souvenir shops, including the "Homlinov" shop.