The sculpture "Fighting bison" is one of the most famous monuments of Kaliningrad and is a sculptural composition consisting of two large figures of bison.
By mistake, the sculpture is often called "Fighting Bulls".
The sculpture was created by the famous German animal sculptor August Gaul (1869-1921) in 1911 and installed in Konigsberg (now Kaliningrad) on the Hufen Alley on November 12, 1912.
During the Second World War, the sculpture was not damaged. In the post-war years, it was moved to the square opposite the regional administration building, in the 1950s - to the Kaliningrad Zoo, and in the early 1970s - returned to its original location, where it is currently located.
Now the sculpture Fighting Bison is an art monument of regional significance.
The sculptural composition is mounted on a pedestal about a meter high and represents two large male bison, cast in life-size bronze, locked in a fight. In front of the pedestal there is a rectangular water tank (pool, bowl), and from two holes in the pedestal, covered with stylized shells, small jets of water flow into the bowl.
"Fighting Bison" is located in the center of Kaliningrad, near Victory Square, in the square between Mira Avenue and Grekova Street.
The square, in which the sculptural composition of bison is installed, is a green area with paths, flower beds and places to relax.
From the side of Grekov Street, historical buildings "approach" the square:
- the building of the Supreme Directorate of the Post Office, erected in 1914-1916, and which currently houses the headquarters of the Baltic Fleet.
During the Second World War, the building was severely damaged by fire, only the outer walls and the portico were preserved. In the early 1950s, the building was restored.
The main facade of the building from the second to the fourth floor is decorated with a portico of six ionic columns, above which there is a classical pediment. The building has an extensive courtyard.
There is a monument to Peter I in front of the main entrance to the building;
- a complex of buildings of the former land and administrative court, which were built in 1914. The buildings are located behind the rear of the "Fighting Bison".
The main building has plastic decorations of the portal and facade, made by the sculptor G. Tillet in 1913-1917.
The building housed the main building of the Kaliningrad State Technical University in 1959. The building also houses the Study of textbooks on Zoology and Hydrobiology named after Professor N.S. Gayevskaya of the Kaliningrad State Technical University of the Department of Ichthyopathology and Hydrobiology, which is now a small museum with expositions from the university fund.
Near the square, from the side of Kronshtadskaya Street and Mira Avenue isKaliningrad Regional Drama Theater, which is one of the decorations of the city.
The theater opened its first season on November 6, 1947 with a performance based on the play by K. Simonov "The Guy from our City" directed by A.I. Kotlyarov.
The original building of the theater (Luisen-Theater) was built in Konigsberg in 1911-1912 by architect Otto Walter Kukuk. In 1923, the building was rebuilt by Dumont du Voitel - the portal with columns was removed and the theater was named "Comic Opera". In 1925, the theater was bought by the administration of Konigsberg, again subjecting it to reconstruction. It was opened in 1927 as the "New Drama Theater".
During the fighting in 1945, the building was seriously damaged and burned out. Then it was rebuilt using old load-bearing structures and with the addition of the main portal with six Corinthian columns.
Kaliningrad Drama Theater Website: dramteatr.
