Queen Louise bridge, Tilset, Germany, 1908

The bridge, named after the wife of Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III, was built in 1907 to mark the centenary of the Peace of Tilsit with Napoleon. The bridge portal, which looks similar to the triumphal arch, was decorated with a bas-relief of Queen Louise (1776--1810). After World War I, it became a border bridge. Customs and a checkpoint were functioning until 1939, when the Memel region -- previously belonging to Lithuania -- became a part of Germany. In October 1944, German troops blew the bridge up during their retreat. In 1947, it was restored but a bas-relief of Queen Louise was taken down. In 1964, symbols of the Soviet state took its place and were not removed until 1995. Today, the bridge is a border bridge once again. Customs and truck parking occupy almost the entire square in front of it.

The Tilset (Sovetsk) bridge still incorporates the ornate bridge portal and it is still called Queen Louise Bridge (Мост Королевы Луизы).