Chernyakhovsk

Chernyakhovsk
Черняховск
Town centre and a statue of Michael Barclay de Tolly
Medieval castle ruins
Historic tenements
Interactive map of Chernyakhovsk
Chernyakhovsk
Location of Chernyakhovsk
Chernyakhovsk
Chernyakhovsk (European Russia)
Chernyakhovsk
Chernyakhovsk (Europe)
Coordinates: 54°38′05″N 21°48′43″E / 54.63472°N 21.81194°E / 54.63472; 21.81194
CountryRussia
Federal subjectKaliningrad Oblast
Administrative districtChernyakhovsky District
Town of district significanceSelsovietChernyakhovsk
Founded1337
Town status since10 October 1583
Area
 • Total
58 km2 (22 sq mi)
Elevation
30 m (98 ft)
Population
 • Estimate 
(2023)
36,423 )
 • Density628/km2 (1,630/sq mi)
 • Capital ofChernyakhovsky District, town of district significance of Chernyakhovsk
 • Municipal districtChernyakhovsky Municipal District
 • Urban settlementChernyakhovskoye Urban Settlement
 • Capital ofChernyakhovsky Municipal District, Chernyakhovskoye Urban Settlement
Time zoneUTC+2 (MSK–1 )
Postal codes
238150–238154, 238158, 238165, 238169, 238170, 238816
Dialing code+7 40141
OKTMO ID27739000001
Websiteinster39.ru

Chernyakhovsk (Russian: Черняхо́вск; German: Insterburg; Lithuanian: Įsrutis; Polish: Wystruć) is a town in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, and the administrative center of Chernyakhovsky District. With a population of 35,705 as of 2023, it is the third-largest city of the Kaliningrad Oblast (behind Kaliningrad and Sovetsk).

It is located at the confluence of the Instruch and Angrapa rivers, which unite to become the Pregolya river below Chernyakhovsk.

Founded in 1337, it is one of the main towns of the region of Lithuania Minor. It was formerly inhabited by Lithuanians, Germans, Poles, Scots and French. It was the location of a German-operated prisoner-of-war camp for Allied POWs during World War II. It has a number of preserved heritage sights, including the ruins of two medieval castles and a historic stud farm. It hosts the Chernyakhovsk Air Base.