Zelenogradsk (Cranz), a famous spa resort, stands on the coast of the Baltic Sea. At the beginning of the 19th century the settlement of Cranz was acknowledged one of the best places for spa procedures able to cure numerous diseases.

Very quickly the small settlement turned into a town full of sanatoriums, holiday hotels and modern residences. The architects bore in mind to build the new resort town beautiful and appealing to the eye. As a result, the town got a funny and airy look. The first railroad, which linked Cranz with Konigsberg, contributed to the inrush of tourists willing to try new water treatment in the town.

Zelenogradsk preserved the old street pattern and folly facades turning an ordinary walk into an exciting adventure. This quaint town took fancy of a fairytale character known under two names: Pinocchio in Italy and Buratino in Russia. Zelenogradsk is the Russian residence of the world famous wooden boy.

Today Zelenogradsk has got a well-developed network of children’s recreation camps as well as holiday hotels for adults.

There are two orthodox cathedrals and a Sunday school in the town. The first cathedral was opened in 1898 and consecrated in the name of St Andrew The Apostle. Preobrazhensky cathedral was the second in Zelenogradsk. The cathedrals occupied the buildings of Catholic and Lutheran Churches respectively.