FORTRESS KRAKOW
“Festung Krakau” is a destination for those interested in military architecture who have a little more time to spend in Krakow than just a weekend.
In the middle of the 19th century the decision was made to fortify the cities of Galicia located near the borders with Prussia and Russia – Krakow and Przemysl. Przemysl (10 km from the present Ukrainian border) was the third biggest fortress in Europe after Verdun and Antwerp. It was never captured and surrendered after a long siege in 1915!
In Krakow a system of fortifications, roads, barracks, warehouses, hospitals, even an airport (one of the oldest military airfields in Europe) and greenery concealing the objects were created. 34 forts survived the WWII and the devastation that came after war. In the 1970s the communist authorities ordered to scrap many armoured elements (like shields). These elements were used to cast many monuments (for example the monuments of Vladimir Lenin). The system of fortification includes the fort of St. Maximilian in form of an artillery tower. Similar forts are to be found in Ulm, Linz, WERONA, however the one in Krakow – Podgórze is considered to be the best preserved one.
Polish Aviation Museum has been created on the area of the airfield in Rakowice. The collection of the museum includes among other things fuselages of the World War I German warplanes (Halberstadt C1.II, Albatross C.I., Aviatik C.III and Roland D.VI).
Duration: approximately 3 h
Prices: negotiable.
