Tomb of Kant in Kaliningrad (photo)

Studying the history of philosophy, we learn an interesting fact: it turns out that Immanuel Kant was born and died in Koenigsberg. But this city, formerly owned by East Prussia, now lies within the Russian Federation and is called Kaliningrad. So, the tomb of Kant, the founder of German classical philosophy, is located within the borders of our fatherland. It's a sin not to use this fact and not to visit Kaliningrad. But how to find traces of an outstanding philosopher in a modern city? Our article will help you in this. And the city itself on numerous islands is worth visiting. At different times he wore the names of Krulewiec, Koenigsberg, Kaliningrad. But first of all it was and remains the native city and the place of rest of Kant.

Biography of the great philosopher

Immanuel Kant was born on the twenty-second day of April 1724 in a rather well-to-do family of an artisan who made saddles. High enough income of the father allowed the boy to study at the prestigious gymnasium "Friedrichs-Collegium", and subsequently enter the University of Königsberg. But then his father dies, and Emmanuel Kant is forced to drop out of school. To support the family, he begins to teach. It was at this time that he was leaving his hometown for the first time. Kant served as a home teacher. During this period, the young scientist developed a hypothesis of the origin of the solar system, which has not lost its relevance to our time. The publication of this work enabled Kant to defend his thesis. The doctorate granted him the right to become a professor. From 1770 to 1797, the scientist taught physical, mathematical and philosophical disciplines at the university of his native city. It is said that all these twenty-nine years Kant passed from house to work with the same route. The respected scientist died on the twelfth of February, 1804. The grave of Kant was the last in the professorial crypt of the Cathedral of Koenigsberg.

Contribution to World Philosophy

Judging by the years of life, the scientist belonged to the Age of Enlightenment. However, Kant was ahead of his age. When the Great French Revolution broke out (1789), the joy of change also reached a small town in East Prussia. All planted "trees of freedom." However, Kant remained unperturbed. "The greatest revolutionary is me," according to legend, he once said. And he was right. His works Critique of Pure Reason (on epistemology), Criticism of Practical Reason (on ethics) and Criticism of Judgment (about aesthetics), have revolutionized European philosophy. It can be said that without the teachings of Kant, there would not have been the conclusions of Hegel, Marx and many other German thinkers. This man brought the philosophy of the spirit to a new level. Therefore, the grave of Immanuel Kant in Kaliningrad remains a place of pilgrimage.

The funeral

The death of a philosopher of such magnitude stirred up the entire learned world, but also his hometown, because Kant knew both Old and Young in Koenigsberg. About his punctuality, there were legends. According to the professor, who went for a walk, the townspeople checked the clock. Therefore, access to the body of the deceased lasted for sixteen days. The coffin at the funeral was carried by twenty-four of the most capable students of the university. They were followed by the officers of the Konigsberg garrison, followed by a huge crowd of citizens. Originally, the tomb of Kant was in the old professorial tomb, which adjoined the north side of the cathedral. This majestic structure, executed in the style of the Baltic Gothic, first was the main Catholic church, and then it became Lutheran. The inscription on the grave was: "Immanuel Kant. Here lies one of the greatest philosophers of the world. "

The modern grave of Kant in Kaliningrad

Photo of the tomb somewhat does not correspond to our previous story. The fact is that in 1809 the professor's chapel became dilapidated and was demolished. In its place at the outer northern wall of the cathedral a gallery was built. It bore the name of the great philosopher - "Standing Cantiana". This structure stood until 1880. On the philosopher's two-hundredth anniversary (1924), Kant's tomb turned into a memorial. The project was designed by the architect Friedrich Lars, the main contributor is Hugo Stinnes. The memorial is an open hall with columns that surround the cenotaph - a stone coffin. This is a symbolic sarcophagus, the remains of the philosopher are not resting on him, but under the slabs of the temple. The style memorial is strikingly different from the entire decoration of the Cathedral.

Events of the Second World War

Königsberg the Nazis hand over with difficulty. Fierce bloody battles were fought in the city. In August 1944, the British ironed the Königsberg bombing from the air. Then, in April 1945, a massive offensive of Soviet troops began. As a result of these battles, the city streets resembled the lunar landscape. There was no longer either the Cathedral or the Memorial Column Hall. But the tomb of Kant (a photo of those years shows this) was preserved in a more or less satisfactory state. And the townspeople saw this as a sign - Koenigsberg would rise again from the ashes.

State-protected facility

So, the city turned into Kaliningrad and became part of the Soviet Union. However, the government of the "sixth part of the land" only in 1960 recalled that Emmanuel Kant was buried in the former Koenigsberg. The grave of the philosopher (gravestone and portico) by Decree No. 1327 of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR was declared "an object of cultural significance of the Kaliningrad region of the federal level". This clumsy formulation meant that from now on the restoration of the monument will be allocated money. The last time the grave was repaired in 1996. It still adjoins the northeast corner of the Cathedral from its outer side. The enclosing columns were also restored.

The roads of Kant

Of course, it is naive to expect that after so many years and wars the house in which the founder of German classical philosophy was born and lived will survive. But the place where this structure stood is known. If you already explore Kaliningrad in search of Kant, you need to start in it. This is the house number 40-A on Leninsky Prospekt. There is a memorial plaque. Opposite the philosopher's home, in 1864, a bronze monument to Kant was erected. It was cast in Berlin. In 1885 the monument was moved to Paradenplatz. In the postwar period, it was lost. But in 1992 he was restored to old photographs. Now the monument to the philosopher stands in the park along Universitetskaya Street. And where is Kant's grave? There, where and always. It adjoins from the outside to the Cathedral. And the main temple of the city is located on the island of Kneiphof.

The symbol of the city

Kaliningrad, despite all the efforts of the authorities to depersonalize it and give the appearance of gray "sovkovosti", managed to preserve European charm. Islands, openwork bridges, a Gothic cathedral allow you to feel comfortable here. Kneiphof stands out in this regard. In translation it means "Courtyard restaurants". Once there lived the urban rich. It was worth the man to get money, he already dreamed of settling on Kneiphof. On the first floors of beautiful houses there were many cafes and restaurants. The charm of the island was emphasized by the great Cathedral, which is adjoined by the tomb of Kant. In Kaliningrad, the photo of this memorial complex is often used as a "visiting card" of the city.