Manjarabad Fort in Hassan, India The eight-pointed star shaped fort built by Tipu Sultan in the late 18th century, was heavily inspired by French architecture and was constructed by Sébastien Le Prestre, Marquis of Vauban. At the time of the fort being built, Tipu Sultan had found his allied with the French leading to his collaboration with the French military architect. The fort was created with an intention of have favorable military position that would prove strategic during times of attack and defense. The fort also features army barracks, storage cells, watchtowers, secret passages and even a well.

One of the #fortresses (as the part of #finland #finnish) located in @savonlinna.bsky.social #savonlinna
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#saimaa
#visitsaimaa
#suomi
#visitfinland
#suomenluonto
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Carlow Castle in Carlow, Ireland Built on the ruins of a previous fortification in the early 13th century, Carlow Castle was a trading hub along the confluence of the Barrow and Burren rivers for hundreds of years. Its construction is attributed to William Marshal, often referred to as "the greatest knight who ever lived," and the successor of Richard "Strongbow" de Clare. With wet bogland surrounding all sides, the castle was essentially built on an island. Rectangular with a round tower at each corner, the castle's design had more in common with fortresses from western France than with those in Ireland. This suggests that Marshal had a profound influence on the building's design, having spent much of his life in France. For a little over a decade during the late 14th century, the British monarchy designated Carlow as the administrative capital of Ireland. The castle defenses, including its 2.7-meter-thick walls, were significantly upgraded, and a third story was added to the top. Although attacked many times, Carlow Castle was never taken by military force until 1650. As Oliver Cromwell and his overwhelming number of troops, equipped with artillery, neared the castle during his conquest of Ireland, Carlow immediately surrendered. It passed between several aristocrats during the next 150 years. In 1812, a member of the Irish Parliament leased Carlow Castle to Dr. Phillip Parry Middleton, who wanted to turn the old building into a mental institution. Middleton, a progressive doctor treating mental patients almost a century before Freud, believed he could gain valuable space by building tunnels under the castle and reducing the thickness of its walls. But, better in medicine than demolition, Middleton used an excessive amount of explosive charges to clear out the interior of the castle, destroying more than half the building in the process. Today, only the western wall remains. If it had been preserved, Carlow Castle would have been similar in size and splendor to Kilkenny Castle — one of Ireland's top tourist attractions. Today the lost towers of Carlow Castle are marked by rows of neatly trimmed hedges and birch trees, giving visitors a sense of the full scale of what once stood there. The rubble left over from Middleton’s botched demolition laid the foundation for downtown Carlow today, land that had previously been too soft for any other buildings.

Zwinger in Münster, Germany Hidden behind trees on the promenade encircling Münster’s old town, the Zwinger may look like a quiet ruin but its stones are soaked with centuries of violence. Originally built in the 16th century as part of the city’s fortifications, this stout stone structure once protected Münster from outside threats. But in the 20th century, during the Nazi regime, the Zwinger was used by the Gestapo as a prison, interrogation center, and execution site. Prisoners held here were often political dissenters, resistance fighters, or simply people caught in the machinery of repression. In the final days of World War II, several were murdered on the site as the Nazi regime collapsed. After the war, the Zwinger remained a decaying reminder of what had happened within its walls.

Rocca Paolina in Perugia, Italy In the 16th century, the Umbrian city of Perugia enjoyed limited autonomy from papal rule—including an exemption from the Pope’s salt tax. This allowed its citizens to buy cheaper salt from nearby Tuscany. But in 1540, Pope Paul III extended his authority and imposed a new salt tax. Perugians refused to comply, sparking the brief conflict known as the Salt War. Though the region’s famous saltless bread is often linked to this rebellion as a symbol of local independence, the tradition of making unsalted bread actually predates the war. The Pope’s army quickly subdued Perugia, but Pope Paul III wanted a lasting symbol of authority to discourage future rebellion. He commissioned Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, a renowned military architect, to construct a massive fortress—the Rocca Paolina—directly over the Borgo San Giuliano district. Entire houses, towers, streets, and even churches were swallowed into its foundations, including the palaces of the Pope’s local rivals, the Baglioni family. An ancient Etruscan gate, the Porta Marzia (3rd century BCE), was incorporated into the new fortress as a lower entrance. The upper sections of this much-despised fortress were eventually demolished in stages during the Italian unification movement: first in the uprisings of 1848, and finally in 1861 when Perugia joined the Kingdom of Italy. Today, that former space has been transformed into Piazza Italia, a central city park. The fortress’s underground remains, however, were rediscovered in 1932 and again in 1965. Visitors can now wander through the preserved medieval streets, Gothic arches, and stone houses buried beneath the Rocca. Parts of the underground city are also used for art exhibitions and cultural events, turning a once-oppressive symbol of papal control into a public space of exploration

#Fortresses

Alcazaba in Málaga, Spain "Alcazaba" is the Spanish rendering of "the citadel" in Arabic, which is why Málaga's Alcazaba is one of many in Spain. Like most, the monumental structure in Málaga is the product of many centuries of addition, modification, embellishment, and destruction. Although historical texts mention earlier fortresses in its current location, the Alcazaba as we know it was primarily built in the 11th century and then significantly improved in the 13th and 14th centuries by a series of small Moorish kingdoms, or "taifas," that controlled Málaga after the fall of the powerful caliphate based in Córdoba. When the city fell to the troops of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1487 after a siege of over three months, it became the residence of the crown's local military governor. As the centuries passed, the Alcazaba's importance as an administrative center diminished, and it served a variety of functions, including as an artillery outpost and prison. Its condition deteriorated significantly following an earthquake in 1680 and a French naval bombardment in 1693. By the end of the 18th century, it had been occupied by the townsfolk, becoming a marginal and picturesque residential neighborhood. It remained that way, partially hidden by the houses of local residents, until 1931, when it was declared a national monument. The Alcazaba's rehabilitation was initially directed by the same architect responsible for restoring the Alhambra in Granada, Leopoldo Torres Balbás. He took a historicist approach, seeking to restore the structure's appearance as faithfully as possible during the time of the Moors. When construction teams undertook the removal of the neighborhood's houses, they were happy to discover that residents had often simply covered up or walled off the remains of arches and columns — cheaper than demolishing and removing them entirely — thereby preserving these features for posterity. What visitors explore today is the result of the restorations carried out from the 1930s to the 1960s, which combined the remains of the original structure with reconstructions informed by archaeological evidence and historical drawings. A visit inside the Alcazaba's formidable walls reveals lush gardens and numerous fountains, harmoniously combining manmade and natural elements. The monument's highlights include the arched doorways of a series of original towers leading up into the fortress's residential interior, some of which incorporate columns from the ruins of the adjacent Roman theater. There's also the Patio de las Armas, a small plaza with a fountain and garden overlooking the port of Málaga, and the upper palace, featuring its own water-cooled interior courtyards, elegant arches, and numerous other intricately detailed decorative elements.

Alcazaba in Málaga, Spain "Alcazaba" is the Spanish rendering of "the citadel" in Arabic, which is why Málaga's Alcazaba is one of many in Spain. Like most, the monumental structure in Málaga is the product of many centuries of addition, modification, embellishment, and destruction. Although historical texts mention earlier fortresses in its current location, the Alcazaba as we know it was primarily built in the 11th century and then significantly improved in the 13th and 14th centuries by a series of small Moorish kingdoms, or "taifas," that controlled Málaga after the fall of the powerful caliphate based in Córdoba. When the city fell to the troops of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1487 after a siege of over three months, it became the residence of the crown's local military governor. As the centuries passed, the Alcazaba's importance as an administrative center diminished, and it served a variety of functions, including as an artillery outpost and prison. Its condition deteriorated significantly following an earthquake in 1680 and a French naval bombardment in 1693. By the end of the 18th century, it had been occupied by the townsfolk, becoming a marginal and picturesque residential neighborhood. It remained that way, partially hidden by the houses of local residents, until 1931, when it was declared a national monument. The Alcazaba's rehabilitation was initially directed by the same architect responsible for restoring the Alhambra in Granada, Leopoldo Torres Balbás. He took a historicist approach, seeking to restore the structure's appearance as faithfully as possible during the time of the Moors. When construction teams undertook the removal of the neighborhood's houses, they were happy to discover that residents had often simply covered up or walled off the remains of arches and columns — cheaper than demolishing and removing them entirely — thereby preserving these features for posterity. What visitors explore today is the result of the restorations carried out from the 1930s to the 1960s, which combined the remains of the original structure with reconstructions informed by archaeological evidence and historical drawings. A visit inside the Alcazaba's formidable walls reveals lush gardens and numerous fountains, harmoniously combining manmade and natural elements. The monument's highlights include the arched doorways of a series of original towers leading up into the fortress's residential interior, some of which incorporate columns from the ruins of the adjacent Roman theater. There's also the Patio de las Armas, a small plaza with a fountain and garden overlooking the port of Málaga, and the upper palace, featuring its own water-cooled interior courtyards, elegant arches, and numerous other intricately detailed decorative elements.

Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland 19.08.2006
#helsinki #finland #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland 19.08.2006
#helsinki #finland #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland 19.08.2006
#helsinki #finland #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland 19.08.2006
#helsinki #finland #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

This is a photo of the bridge to enter the fortress that was built in the 17th century on the top of the hill to protect the Port of Barcelona from enemy invasion. #fortresses #portofbarcelona #photography

7/12 Putin's gambit seems designed to avoid further sanctions. Russia has tried and failed to capture all of Donbas since 2014. While taking most of Luhansk, they've been stopped in Donetsk by Ukraine's strong fortress belt.
#Donbas #Fortresses

The White Lady’s Bullet-Scarred Wall in Bender, Moldova In the courtyard of the 15th-century Bender Fortress, in the breakaway region of Transnistria, visitors might notice something strange: a cluster of bullet holes in one section of the wall. They don’t follow a clear trajectory or resemble typical conflict damage—they seem to focus on a spot long linked to a local ghost story, where whispers of tragedy, loss, and the unexplained have lingered for generations. Centuries ago, during Ottoman control of Bender Fortress, a young Slavic woman—known as Maryuka or Viorica in different versions—was taken from the nearby village of Varnitsa by a Turkish commander-in-chief and held as his concubine within the fortress walls, where she soon became pregnant. After trying to escape, she was caught, punished, and thrown to her death from the highest tower; her baby was taken from her. Since then, her spirit—called the White Lady for always being dressed in white—has been said to appear on moonlit nights at the same spot by one of the gate towers in the courtyard, as if searching for her lost child. Over the years, even in more recent times, startled guards have reportedly fired at the figure, leaving lasting marks on that part of the wall. Many historic strongholds claim their own White Lady, but this tale stands apart. Long after the story first took root, bones and a copper-colored braid believed to have belonged to the young woman at the heart of the legend were unearthed in the lower part of the fortress. Combined with the bullet holes in the wall—from both old muskets and modern firearms—it’s enough to make a few visitors question where the story ends and the truth begins.

Borgarvirki - Fortress from 10th Century (wall reconstructed 1950s), Norðurland Vestra, Iceland 26.07.2007
#vesturland #iceland #landscape #landscapephotography #photography #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

Borgarvirki - Fortress from 10th Century, Norðurland Vestra, Iceland 26.07.2007
#vesturland #iceland #landscape #landscapephotography #photography #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

Kustaanmiekka, Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland 17.07.2005
#helsinki #finland #architecture #architecturephotography #photography #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

Kustaanmiekka, Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland 17.07.2005
#helsinki #finland #architecture #architecturephotography #photography #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

Tykistölahti, Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland 17.07.2005
#helsinki #finland #architecture #architecturephotography #photography #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

Pikku Mustasaari, Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland 17.07.2005
#helsinki #finland #architecture #architecturephotography #fortress #fortresses #house #houses #valokuvataivas

True Stories #388 - Friends in High Places Elmer Bendiner was the navigator of a B-17 bomber during World War 2. His plane should have never returned from its mission, but strange luck would visit him that day.

📣 New Podcast! "True Stories #388 - Friends in High Places" on @Spreaker #andrews #b_17 #bendiner #bohn #bomber #elmer #fall #fawkes #fortresses #history #seth #stories #true #ww2

This old cannon sits next to the old Fortress that was built in the 17th century to defend the Port of Barcelona from enemy invasion. I don't think these kinds of cannons were used during Spain's civil war. They have modern ones on top of the fortress. #portofbarcelona #photography #fortresses

Fortress Wall, Hamina, Finland 21.06.2009
#hamina #finland #architecture #architecturephotography #fortress #fortresses #wall #walls #valokuvataivas

Fortress, Hamina, Finland 21.06.2009
#hamina #finland #architecture #architecturephotography #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

Fortress, Kirkkojärvenkatu, Hamina, Finland 21.06.2009
#hamina #finland #architecture #architecturephotography #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

Fortress, Rauhankatu, Hamina, Finland 21.06.2009
#hamina #finland #architecture #architecturephotography #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

Tykki, Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland 18.06.2006
#helsinki #finland #photography #urbanphotography #architecture #architecturephotography #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

Tykki (Photo Tommi), Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland 18.06.2006
#helsinki #finland #photography #urbanphotography #architecture #architecturephotography #fortress #fortresses #valokuvataivas

Fortress' wall, Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland 18.06.2006
#helsinki #finland #photography #urbanphotography #architecture #architecturephotography #fortress #fortresses #wall #walls #valokuvataivas