The tower is named after Field Marshal Karl Friedrich Emil zu Dohna-Schlobitten.
The structure served as the headquarters for the final German garrison in Kaliningrad during the 1945 assault.
The amber collection includes the 'Sun Stone,' a massive piece of natural Baltic amber.
The building was designed in the Neo-Gothic architectural style typical of Prussian military engineering.
The museum holds rare 'amber inclusions' dating back 40 to 50 million years.
It is a protected cultural heritage site of the Russian Federation.
The tower walls are roughly 1.5 meters thick to withstand heavy artillery fire.
The Dona Tower, or Bashnya Dona, is a 19th-century defensive fortification now serving as the Kaliningrad Amber Museum. The structure was completed in 1853 as part of the outer defensive perimeter of Königsberg. It is a circular red-brick fortress featuring a thick outer wall and a central courtyard. The museum occupies three floors and houses one of the world's largest collections of raw and worked amber. Exhibits include prehistoric inclusions, such as insects and plants trapped in fossilized resin. The collection features artistic carvings, jewelry, and large natural specimens weighing several kilograms. Visitors can explore the historic casemates that were originally designed for artillery defense. The museum is located on the eastern shore of Lake Verkhneye (Upper Lake).
The red-brick exterior from the lakefront path, providing a contrast between the historical fortifications and the water.
Visit the gift shop for authentic Baltic amber products as a reliable alternative to street markets.
Climb to the upper viewing platforms for a vantage point over the adjacent lake.
Inquire about audio guides, as many small labels in the cabinets are in Russian.
Do not purchase 'amber' from street vendors nearby, as much of the merchandise sold outside the museum is plastic or low-quality resin.
Typically closed on Mondays.
