Recently I've been reading a bit about fortifications from that time, and I'd like to visit some. Unfortunately, it's a bit hard to research, google mostly offers cities with intact medieval walls, as there are a lot of them, and they are probably more popular with tourists.

Randomly looking at google earth, I notice a a few of places have parts of their fortifications left, mostly taken over by nature or repurposed for modern use. I get it, they took up a lot of space, unlike medieval walls, and were entirely useless from the mid 19th century at the latest. So cities got rid of them.

Bourtange is one which seems fairly close to original, after a restoration in the 1960s, according to Wikipedia.

I'd be particularly delighted to see some intact outer works, as those are usually the first to be demolished or repurposed. Ravelins, crownworks, tenailles, contre-gardes or a good glacis.

I know that in NL they have a lot of places where the general shape of the fortifications is still visible on the landscape, but I'm hoping to visit some where I could see them in good shape, more than just a strange triangular hill or island that used to be a bastion or ravelin once.

Anyone have some suggestions?


24 comments

  3. Maybe a month ago actually I visited [Suomenlinna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suomenlinna) for the first time. It’s a fortified set of islands in Helsinki from the 18th century. It used to called the “Gibraltar of the North”. These days it’s a UNESCO world heritage site. There’s some really cool Swedish Kingdom and Russian Empire era architecture, the bastion structures are intact, and the place has a surprising amount of military history. I for example didn’t know it was once bombarded by the British during the Crimean War.

  4. The castle in Malmö is a museum, in the 18th century it was stopped to be used as a fortification and was first a prison in the 19th century and then became a museum in the 20th century. They have exhibitions about the history of the castle and of the city. For example can you look inside one of the cannon towers. [https://malmo.se/Uppleva-och-gora/Arkitektur-och-kulturarv/Malmos-historia/Platser-och-byggnader/Byggnader-A-O/Malmohus-slott.html](https://malmo.se/Uppleva-och-gora/Arkitektur-och-kulturarv/Malmos-historia/Platser-och-byggnader/Byggnader-A-O/Malmohus-slott.html)

  6. Fort Pannerden near Doornenburg in the Netherlands, where the Lower Rhine and the Waal rivers split.
    One kilometer further away: the medieval (although bombed to the ground in WW2, then restored) castle Doornenburg which is also worth visiting.

    At the time there were two big ‘fortress lines’ that protected certain areas of the country. From the 80 years war, through the disaster year 1672, up to the 19th century:

    The Frisian Waterlinie is partially intact and visible for free: entrenchments like the Zwartendijkerschans, Blessebrugschans, Sterreschans, and Bekhofschans.

    There’s the 80 years war museum in Groenlo, a fortress city itself where one of its famous battles was fought. South of the city you can still overlook the so-called French entrenchment.

    The Hollandse Waterlinie also has a museum dedicated to it. There’s many intacts forts of it that you can visit, the museum is in the ‘Fort near Vechten’ in Bunnik. The much older Muiderslot castle was also part of it, and world famous.

    How about my favourite from WW2? Kornwerderzand, a sluice complex in the Afsluitdijk where the Germans were stopped. Many casemates still exist and the museum in it is a must-see.

    Cold War? The IJssellinie near Olst was once constructed to stop advancing Soviet tanks and you can still visit.

    More cold war? We had bunkers everywhere by the Bescherming Bevolking, an organisation that had to protect civilians during an atomic attack. There’s museums in the bunkers of Rijswijk in the west and Grou in Friesland.

    Back to the 19th century, the navy harbour Den Helder was called Gibraltar of the North by Napoleon. There’s the Fort Erfprins you can visit. The navy museum in the city is also amazing. They have museum ships!

  10. For Denmark the things they come to mind are, Kronborg castle, Kastellet (Copenhagen), the ramparts of Fredericia and the ramparts of Christianshavn (Copenhagen)

  11. Well… The issue in Swedens case is that many forts were built in those styles that you’d like to see. Some like [Jönköping Castle and Fortress](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B6nk%C3%B6pings_slott_och_f%C3%A4stningsverk#/media/Fil:Hans_Fleming_J%C3%B6nk%C3%B6pings_slott.jpg) doesnt exist anymore with very left such as [this](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B6nk%C3%B6pings_slott_och_f%C3%A4stningsverk#/media/Fil:Bastion_,Carolusparken_01.jpg) which was added afterwards. However there are some rare cases like [Borgholm Castle ruins](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borgholms_slottsruin#/media/Fil:Borgholms_slottsruin_fr%C3%A5n_luften.jpg) which are still fairly in tact. But you will find very little fortresses or castles with extensive and complicated bastion fortification styles in Sweden in general compared to the continent that have have these styles because they were flatter than Sweden. We had a lot of geography to use to our advantages like [small islands of rock](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlshamns_kastell#/media/Fil:0441Karlshamns_kastell.jpg), or [rock formation that were like hills](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlstens_f%C3%A4stning#/media/Fil:Carlstens_f%C3%A4stning_-_KMB_-_16000300022827.jpg).

    But I will give you a list of general fortifications.

    While it’s outside the 17th-19th period, [Kalmar Castle](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalmar_slott#/media/Fil:Kalmar_Slott_Aug2011.jpg) which was built in the 12th century with its fortifications added in the 13th century might be worth a visit.

    You have [Vaxholm Fortress](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaxholms_kastell#/media/Fil:Vaxholms_f%C3%A4stning_fr%C3%A5n_luften_(cropped).jpg), which is from the 16th century but was rebuilt in the 19th century.

    There’s Karlsbrog Fortress, built between the 19th and 20th century, used during its construction and was planned to be the reserve capital city of Swedens Monarchy, government, parliament and gold reserves in case of war. But it was phased out of use in 1925.

    [Kungsholmen Fortress](https://scontent.farn1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/493412471_1091991526291812_2809860633745565928_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=Gui85rqJxPMQ7kNvwGw8kF_&_nc_oc=Adn4adleJd46q-rm4Gx-llfkueW3bRJ-FwbY_h6YC_bBWK8ymlVZyT8yFUk9Vz3xWX4&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.farn1-2.fna&_nc_gid=EVAtZKTHSpC0BdW8Sutk8w&oh=00_AfYTiXZzJh5xB1qMhveyQYhjdnV9VPaWhh67a0B71eFFTQ&oe=68CE4C47), built in the 17th century. It actually got reinstated in 2020 again. There is a museum too obviously.

    [Bohus Fortress](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Bohus_f%C3%A4stning_-_KMB_-_16000300022825.jpg), a history of being a Fortress to Norway, Sweden and Denmark-Norway. Never been conquered during war, been besieged at least 14 times between the 14th century up until the 18th century.

    [Landskrona Citadell](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landskrona_citadell#/media/Fil:Landskrona_citadell_fr%C3%A5n_luften.jpg), The citadel is one of the best-preserved water fortresses in the Nordic countries from the 16th century with a well-preserved moat system. Fort is built by Denmark in the 16th century, taken over by Sweden during the 17th century, lost to Denmark during the same century to then be retaken. Mostly used as a prison between 1822-1940.

    In short here’s a wiki page [to all Swedish castles, fortresses ever. ](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kategori:Bef%C3%A4stningar_i_Sverige)There a some goodies in there. It depends if you can accept them mostly not being bastion fortresses.

  12. County Cork on the south coast of Ireland has several forts from this period. The fairly intact and very impressive Charles Fort and the more ruined James Fort guard the mouth of the River Bandon near Kinsale in County Cork. Elizabeth Fort overlooks Cork City centre. Spike Island in Cork Harbour which was famously converted to a prison. Fort Meaghar (Camden) overlooking Cork Harbour. All of these can be visited.

    Spain and France both tried to land in Ireland many times. Cork and Kinsale were especially seen as key harbours. Spain landed in Kinsale in 1601 though were defeated. Slave traders also attacked the Cork coast with the sack of Baltimore in 1631. Cork is said to be the second largest natural harbour in the world, had the largest butter market in the world and Spike Island was for a time the largest prison in the British Empire. The coastline is also dotted with Napoleonic era Martello watchtowers too.

  13. Niš, Serbia has one of the best preserved Ottoman forts in the world, which was built on top of a Roman fort. It was built in the early 1700s if I recall correctly.

  14. The citadel of Pamplona is a complete fort from this time period. 

    I think Bayonne in France has these style of fortifications too.

  15. On the newer end of the time scale you have the Przemyśl Fortress There is a variety between particular forts in terms of how well preserved they are and how well the tourist infrastructure around them works, but it’s a very interesting chunk of history. There are also some Fortifications around Kraków from a similar time period.

    Edit: I found an article with a [list](https://podroze.onet.pl/ciekawe/fortyfikacje-i-twierdze-w-polsce-najciekawsze-forty-i-bunkry-przewodnik/v7ywh1m) of Polish fortifications. The automatic English translation may not be the best, but you’ll be able to tell from the pictures if they fit your requirements

  16. [Landskrona Citadel](https://visitorsguidetoscania.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20230429_153245-kopia.jpg?w=2045) in the city of Landskrona in Scania, Sweden, is still very well preserved. It is situated close to Öresund/Øresund (The Sound) and right opposite the Scanian island of Ven and the northern suburbs of Copenhagen on the Danish coast.

    This fortress which is surrounded by moats was built in the 16th century under the Danish king Christian III.

    It was here that the eccentric astronomer Tycho Brahe’s pet moose tragically died from falling down the stairs after having gotten drunk during a feast at the fortress.

    After Scania became Swedish through the Treaty of Roskilde, the fortress instead became a military border fortification guarding against Danish attacks.

    Later, the citadel was used as a prison. Then during and following World War II it instead became a provisional refugee camp, housing many Jewish refugees who had fled across the Sound from the Nazi occupied Denmark.

    Nowadays the surroundings and courtyard of the citadel are open to the public and can be visited free of charge. There is also a cafe and some small shops there.

  17. Someone else mentioned it aswell but fort [Naarden](https://forten.nl/forten/vesting-naarden/) sounds like the exact thing you’re looking for.
    Originally build in the 16th century in style of the “Oud-Nederlands vestingstelsel”, it’s been improved many times over it’s life. These 16th century fortifications, they themselves build on the medieval fortifications, had the bastions with one moat.

    Then after the shitshow of 1672 it was build upon, which is most of what you see today. A bastion was added, existing ones expanded and modified (cannons basements, a “lage wal” (low wall) added between for more cannon placements.

    Furthermore, raveleind were added and after the moat yet another layer defense was implemented: A “ring” or enveloppe surrounding the entire fort with a covered way to the inside.

    The near-final round of improvements happened in 1873 after the threat of the germans become very real. The bastions were modified to be taller and got “bunkers” (we call ‘m “bomb free buildings”) and some got a mortar placement. Furthermore another (small) more modern fort was build about 300m off and connected via earthworks.

    And then finally, with the brisantgranate rendering the thing fairly obsolete, the fort was still updated via building of concrete bunkers in the envelope, which then became the main line of defense.

    Overall it’s largely a very well preserved fortress with most of it stemming from the 17th century and being roughly in line with the “Nieuw Nederlands Vestingstelsel”. It’s well preserved due to being in use till fairly recently, which albeit has resulted in some late 19th century modifications.

    Can’t recommend visiting it enough, it’s really humbling to walk on the envelope looking at the *massive* heaps of brick and stone of the raveleins/bastions. Plus they’ve got a great museum with some old kit aswell, like old 17th century cannons still in working state (in fact they were firing just yesterday)

  18. Tilbury Fort on the far eastern edge of London

    There’s a couple in Dunkirk but one of them has been turned into a park

    Sagres in the south-west corner of Portugal

    Western Heights in Dover

  19. A lot of Vauban fortifications in France are still intact (he built so many). The Lille citadelle, Saint Martin en Ré, Neuf Brisach, Briançon, Arras etc. You’ll find a whole list [here](https://sites-vauban.org). Some are reused, many are still military sites and some are even cheese caves that you can visit !

  20. Festung Rothenbeeg near Nuremberg is fairly small but reasonably intact, and if you’re in the region then Ingolstadt also still has some bits left

  21. Those are the first ones I can think of as I mostly know older castles. I think that you can find many many more in France. Also there are a lot of castles that have been constructed over the time, started for some since the 12th century with parts from 16th, 18th…

    [Fort Louvois ](https://maps.app.goo.gl/NM2uszzdSSzSjLR98), construction 1691-1694

    [citadelle de Blayes](https://maps.app.goo.gl/zFVUC8xsAgsMe9Ya6), built 1686-1689

    [Fort national](https://maps.app.goo.gl/UuGvRVYxscWepCUs9) next to the old city of St Malo, built 1689-1693

    [citadelle de Besançon](https://maps.app.goo.gl/E82c2nM2GPVYjsxG9), built 1668-1683

    [fort Libéria](https://maps.app.goo.gl/o5V3NJ5Yc9XstCfCA), built 1681-?

    During this period of time, most castles were more palaces like Versailles. Military castles with fortifications are more on the borders or older ones that were re-worked.

    In fact, one way to find some castles of this time, would be to look for castles designed by Vauban, who was a royal architect and designed many French military castles at the time.

    Also I visited [this one](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kx4LJ1jjo9czFN3WA) in Copenhagen

  22. The Cittadella di Alessandria in Piemonte, Italy is from the 18th century and is very well preserved. They actually have a cool comic book festival in it every year. 

  23. The biggest example in Italy would be [Lucca](https://www.turismo.lucca.it/sites/default/files/veduta%20aerea%20lucca.jpg), whose walls still stand intact and have been turned into a park.

    [Palmanova](https://www.ilviaggiatore-magazine.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/palmanova-comune.jpg), while built slightly earlier than your time span, is also a pretty intact example of fortified early modern era town.

    The Western Alps in Italy also have a couple of really well preserved forts in [Bard](https://ita.travel/img/t1270h0/blogimg/leto/valle-daosta/valle-d-aosta-fort-bard.webp) and [Fenestrelle](https://www.pracatinathotel.it/en/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/FOTO-FORTE-PER-SITO-1170×650.jpg), built by the House of Savoy to contain French invasions. I think they are the biggest forts of their kind in Europe.

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