Excursion to Labiau the city of beer and Ragnit, the city of cheese from Kaliningrad

The history of the lands you will travel through is inextricably linked with the history of beer brewing and cheese making. You will discover a fascinating, beautiful and also delicious route.On your way to Polessk, you will stop in Guryevsk (formerly Neuhausen), a small and cozy town where the late XIII century Neuhausen castle has been preserved to this day. There you will also see the Church of Neuhausen, built in 1292. Along the way you will see another Church in Turgenevo (former gross Legitten), also built in the XIII century.Arriving in Polessk, you will visit the historic building of the Albert Blankenstein brewery, which was founded in 1840. Here you will get acquainted with the tradition of brewing in East Prussia, the story of which began a long time ago with the arrival of the Teutonic knights on the territory of Prussia. Here beer was brewed at first exclusively in the castle Breweries, which provided "liquid bread" not only for the knights and their knechts, but also for the numerous castle servants employed in various jobs. Over time, professional brewers appeared among the German colonists. Breweries that appeared outside the castles and monasteries began to bring income to the Treasury of the newly formed cities. In the villages, only certain taverns had the privilege of brewing beer. The right to brew beer and then sell it in their homes, was a symbol of the high social status of the citizen.The history of cheese making in East Prussia dates back to the same period. After the great plague of 1709 - 1710, Mennonite settlers from Holland brought their cheese making traditions to the territory of East Prussia and the Memel region. "Mennonite cheese" was sold in considerable quantities and was popular. Immigrants from Salzburg and Switzerland also contributed to the creation of the cheese making tradition in East Prussia. During the tour you will also learn about the history of the famous "Tilsit cheese".The next stop on your route is the city of Neman, where you will find the "cheese factory of the Tilsit-Ragnit region" and the hospitable guest house-restaurant Deutsches Haus, a complex with more than 200 years of history. They make the same Tilsiter cheese here. You will enjoy a cheese tasting and a tour of the cheese factory, after which you can buy your favorite craft cheeses.Finally you will explore the majestic Castle of Ragnit, accompanied by the commander of the castle. This castle was once one of the largest in East Prussia. Currently, the castle is in a ruined state, but it is being actively restored. Among the attractions in Neman you will see the "Building Community" Mennonite, a monument to Prussian Princess Ragnite.An optional lunch at the restaurant Deutsches Haus is avilable for an additional fee of 300 RUB./person.