Amber Room replica reels in crowds
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
11.08.2014 09:47
A replica of the legendary Amber Room that was removed from Russia during WWII, never to be seen again, was the highlight of the 8th European Amber Festival over the weekend in Wielun, central Poland.
Visitors explore a replica of the Amber Room, Wielun. Photo: PAP/ Grzegorz Michalowski
The fabled chamber, sometimes referred to as 'the eighth wonder of the world', stood for three centuries in the imperial Catherine Palace near St Petersburg, but was dismantled by the Germans during the WWII Nazi occupation.
Photo: PAP/ Grzegorz Michalowski
In 1941, the Amber Room was placed in storage in the then East Prussian city of Konigsberg (now Kaliningrad), but no trace of the treasure has been found since the end of the war.
The replica shown in Wielun over the weekend was constructed by Austrian craftsmen.
The purpose of the European Amber Festival is to promote regions along the ancient Amber Road that ran from the Baltic across Europe to the Mediterranean.
The amber trade was already thriving during the time of the Roman Empire and chariot races inspired by classic Hollywood movie Ben Hur were staged at the Wielun festival.
Workshops demonstrating how craftsmen fashioned amber and other materials were also part of the festival's programme.
A chariot race at the 8th Europran Festival of Amber. Photo: PAP/ Grzegorz Michalowski
Source: PAP