Fort Gerhard in Świnoujście

Fort Gerhard is one of the most important sights in Świnoujście. The building was constructed in the mid-19th century to protect the harbor entrance. It was designed by Gerhard Cornelius, after whose name the building is still named today. Fort Gerhards is just one part of the Swinoujscie fortress. Alongside the lighthouse, it is one of the most important historical monuments in Świnoujście. It was also the most important facility guarding the entrance to the port of Świnoujście. It is a well-preserved fortress built in the years 1848-1859. The idea for its construction came from the 18th century architect Gerhard Cornelius van Wallrave, who also drew up its plan. He was also the author of the project to extend the fortress in Kłodzko (Glatz). The eastern fort was also named "Fort Gerhards" in his honor. The fort has the shape of an oval two-storey redoubt. It originally had two wings and a drawbridge leading over the moat to the main entrance, an inner courtyard and three towers. Due to its location, the harbor was exposed to direct, regular attacks by the enemy. The fortress was therefore constantly expanded. In 1881, two caponiers were added, i.e. earthworks arranged across the moat, which were used for firing and defending the entrance to the fortress. Two bunkers were built at the southern and northern ends of the fort, which were connected to the inner courtyard of the fort by an underground tunnel. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, a narrow-gauge railroad was brought to the fortress and a telegraph line was installed After the war, the fortress was handed over to the city. Initially, camps were set up there. The building was later abandoned. Much changed in 2001. The fortress was leased by a group of enthusiasts who opened its doors to visitors a few months later. One of the most interesting places for living history lessons was created. Visitors to the fort learn about history under the watchful eye of a "Prussian soldier", who shows them around and "drills" them if necessary. In 2001, the Coastal Defense Museum was established in the fortress. It is the largest private institution of its kind in Poland and contains over 2000 exhibits on the development of the Swinoujscie fortress over the last 300 years. In the fortress we can see one of the best preserved artillery galleries in Europe - a series of stone and brick emplacements for 150 and 210 mm caliber coastal guns with preserved artifacts of various gun mountings; a small courtyard with casemates under the artillery gallery; ammunition and powder magazines in the west wing of the fort; two artillery stations and former firing positions for field guns on the southern rampart of the fort above the southern caponier; the wreck of the SDKFZ 7/2 transporter, which was salvaged from the sea near Dziwnów in 2006, on the drill ground. The tour of the fortress takes about 75 minutes, plus additional time for the museum visit. Other similar attractions await military and history enthusiasts in Świnoujście. Three of the four forts built in the 19th century have been preserved to this day. All of them are open to the public.