Svetlogorsk: The Essentials

15 points5 km2.5 hours

The city's most important sights, history, and legends. Here you'll learn everything you need to know about Svetlogorsk, the former German town of Rauschen, and its most popular spots.

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

📜 Learn the city's history
🏞️ Enjoy the view
🏛️🕰️ Compare the eras

Route points (15)

Elevator and Promenade in Svetlogorsk

Point on route “Svetlogorsk: The Essentials”

Point 11

Elevator and Promenade

⚙️ Industrial site • 🚶‍♂️ Waterfront

Going Down to the Sea

The historic part of Svetlogorsk actually sits on top of a dune, about 42 meters (138 feet) above sea level. That is why the elevator is the most convenient and scenic way to reach the promenade. There are five ways down to the sea in all: 3 for pedestrians (at present only the main one is open, the staircase opposite the central square; the others are closed for repairs until fall 2024) and 2 more that use technology, the cable car (open since June 2024) and the elevator. The panoramic elevator offers wonderful views of the sea, and several cafés, also with views of the Baltic, operate on its top and bottom floors. A ride costs 80 rubles one way per person.

The Promenade

Svetlogorsk has two promenades, old and new. Because of severe storms and construction on the shore, Svetlogorsk's beaches have almost entirely disappeared under water, and the old promenade was regularly damaged. So the entire old promenade is closed for repairs until fall 2024, and all around it work is under way to strengthen the dunes and bring back the sand. The new section of the promenade, however, is open and offers plenty of room for walks.

Breakwaters

These “fences in the sea” are breakwaters, also called groins. They protect the shore from being washed away, especially in storms. Breakwaters made of Siberian larch not only damp the waves but also cause sand to settle, drawing it in beneath them. The breakwaters set crosswise are an experiment for the duration of the construction work, meant to “stake out” as much sand as possible. About 6,500 breakwater logs have been installed along the Svetlogorsk coast in all.