Hufen

Hufen was a broad region along northwestern Königsberg, Germany, which developed into the quarters of Ratshof, Amalienau, Mittelhufen, and Vorderhufen. The territory is now part of the Tsentralny District of Kaliningrad, Russia.

History

Hufen's name was derived from the system of measurement Hufe, approximately 30 morgen. Under the control of Altstadt by 1286, it was known as Huben by 1300. It originally extended north and west from Steindamm Gate. By 1710 Altstadt had foresters tending to the Kaporner Heath northwest of Königsberg, living along the Alte Pillauer Landstraße on the road to Pillau. Rich Königsbergers began to visit the countryside in summertime. By the end of the 18th century Hufen consisted of the estate Ratshof and the villages Vorderhufen ("near Hufen") in the north, Mittelhufen ("middle Hufen") in the northwest, and Hinterhufen ("further Hufen"), later known as Amalienau.Hardershof developed north of Mittelhufen in the early 19th century.

In 1786 Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel the Elder established the Bohlenweg, a road allowing easier access to the estate Pojenter Hof (later the Luisenwahl Park). The Bohlenweg-Verein was an association of villa owners founded at the beginning of the 19th century. The theologian Ehregott Andreas Wasianski, a friend of Immanuel Kant, lived in what would become the Villa Hufenterrasse. In 1812 the Laufenhof manor was converted into the Villa Conradshof. Seven villas burned down in 1826.