h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One of the most important and best preserved renaissance fortresses in Europe is located in the Spandau district of Berlin. More precisely, some hundred metres north from the mouth of the rivers Spree and Havel.

In the Beginning
In the beginning was an island in the marshland of the Unterhavel with optimal conditions to control the Havel, for fishing and for agriculture. After different building periods of barricades and a destruction through fire, the first castle structure was built on the site in the 11th century. This means a history of at least nine centuries of fortification which began with Slavic fortifications in 1050.

Elector Prince, entitled to vote the German King. Joachim II
The citadel effected by the development of the new black powder siege weaponry in the 16th century and due to the unrest due to the aftermath of the Schmalkaldic WarReligious war (1546-1547) between Catholic and Protestant parties. it was necessary to set up a new updated defense system. For this reason, the elector Joachim II (1535-1575) commissioned a rebuild of the stronghold in the Italian Renaissance style.

Two Italian building masters
In the year 1562 the Venetian master builder Chiaramella de Gandino was charged with the construction management. He started construction with two of the massive triangular bastions: the König, or King bastionThe south western corner. and the Königin, or Queen bastionThe south eastern corner., these defended the main gate and its approaches.
Approximately 200 Italian skilled workers from supported him at ground works. His successor was also well known, he was Rochus Guerrini Count of Lynar. It was he who completed the outer works by constructing the Kronprinz, or Crown Prince bastionThe north western corner. and the Brandenburg bastionThe south eastern corner. and in 1578, the building work was finally completed in 1594 after 32 years. When finished the citadel formed part of a defensive system that included landward defensive system on the east and west banks of the river Havel. The Italian name 'citta della' means in English 'small town' but the term 'citadel' has been used since the 16th century.

Description
When completed the long curtain wallForm an almost perfect square. structures were protected and secured by the four bastionsWith a distance of 307:301 meters between the apex of the corner bastions.. These bastions are located at the corner of two curtain walls. They look like massive angular observation platforms. By this means the defenders created a field of fire between each bastion, preventing attackers approaching the base of the curtain wall and the wall or the opposite bastion.
Since its completion the fortress has been completely surrounded by water with a protective work to the western, southern and eastern side, and open to the river Havel at the northern side.
According to plans of the year 1560 a demand of 176 canons different calibres was calculated. The new construction work incorporated two existing buildings from the 13th century, the Julius tower in the south eastern corner. and the palas. At this time a tour was possible around the curtain walls and the bastions and parts of the rest of the fortress without any interruption. However, due to the safety factor of very old buildings public access has become limited.

History 1630 - 1945
At the time of the 30 Years War between 1631 and 1634, the citadel saw some action and due to its strategic position the it was occupied by Swedish troops.
To strengthen the fortification the 'Schweinekopf' or 'pig`s head', demi-luneA defensive work, backwards open and mostly placed on the other side of a castle moat. ravelin was built in front of the western curtain wall, this was faced with stonewalls in 1704.
During his wars of conquest Emperor Napoleon visited the citadel on 26th October 1806.
When Prussian troops were liberating the occupied citadel on 18 April 1813 the powder magazine in the Queen Bastion exploded which forced the French troops to leave.

The Prussian treasury with its 120 million gold marks were stored in the Julius tower from July 1874 to 27th May 1919. Therefore the byname 'cash box'.

During the national socialist period the citadel became a restricted military zone which housed the gas laboratories for the army. Around 300 employees not only worked on protective measures against gas attacks but also on the development of chemical weapons. This work left behind longstanding traces and some contamination hazards.

Later History 1945 - today
After the Second World War the citadel had a wide variety of uses. One of which was a technical trades school, the Otto-Bartning-Oberschule, which gave the buildings a use and preserved the Spandau Citadel. During this period some famous Edgar Wallace films were shot at this medieval environment.

The large-scale reconstruction work begun half a century ago. It aims were to preserve the historical buildings and renovate them to their original condition, allowing visitors to see the different periods of the citadels history. Starting in 1988, a systematic programme of intensive searches for any remaining toxic materials was begun by the police, this however significantly slowed down the renovation work on the fortress.
Today the citadel is exclusively used for cultural purposes. Concerts, art shows and historical exhibitions take place in the official rooms and the courtyard is often used as a venue for large celebrations.
More than 10,000 native bats of 12 different species hibernate in a self-chosen part of the subterraneous catacombs every year. Free-living bats can be viewed in their winter quarters and the bat cellar offers a permanent exhibition accompanied by more expert guidance.

Above the entrance of the Gatehouse building hangs a blazon with the motto of the English Most Noble Order of the Garter. This famous order
founded by King Edward of England on 19th January 1350 directs its maxim to people who think ill of others intending to do something special.

'Honne soit qui mal y pense.'



The main features of the Citadel
The Gatehouse building
Originally the building with its facade were built in the Renaissance style.
Having been heavily damaged by cannon fire in 1813, in 1839, the facade was rebuilt in a later style, known as classicism.A European art epoch (about 1770-1830) based on ancient paragons.
The Drawbridge
Made of wood and furnished with heavy chains the gatehouse situated to the east of the King bastion could with it be safely cordened off and defended.
Debris was heaped up into the soft ground and great wooden stakes, mostly oak, were rammed into to make up a solid foundation for the building.
The Julius tower
With a high of 30 meters and a wall thickness up to 3.60 meters this functioned predominantly as fortified tower, donjonA main tower within the walls of a medieval castle. and later a state prison.
It has also been used as living accommodation and as a safe place for the Prussian treasury. Nowadays it is used to provide a panoramic view into the natural landscape as well as to Spandau old town.
The Crown Prince bastion with harbour and courtyard
Today this bastion houses a young peoples school of arts and an applied arts organization serving the local area.
The harbour, originally built to allow for troop movements and supply was filled in 1877. A successful restoration brought back the origin by now.
Brandenburg bastion and Italian courtyards
The five bright barrel vaults in the earth wall of the Brandenburg bastion were named the Italian courtyards after their building masters
and their unique appearance which resulted from the use of colourful stonework. The acoustic quality is the result of the metres thick walls and the shape of the arches.
The Jewish section of the history museum of Spandau town
More than 60 Jewish gravestones from the years 1244 to 1474, found on the area of the citadel, are posed in the Queen bastion
as an important source to inform about the living of Jewish population in this region.
The parade hall
This a place where a valuable collection of rare, historical cannons can be viewed and admired.
The arsenal
Designed by Carl Ferdinand Busse (1802-1868) and built between 1856-1858, this building has accommodated the history museum of Spandau town on two floors since 1992.
The exterior of the palas
Due to different alterations during the course of its history the inner and outer structure was nearly completely destroyed.
But since the completion of the reconstruction in 1980 the facade can be seen with its former brickwork and Gothic style window shapes.
The excavations on display in foyer B
The foyer B was created newly within the west curtain wall in 1994.
Parts of the structure of the old Slavish 11th century castle were excavated
here, and these are now on display and can be visited.






Bobstafford

Hi Thomas,

Good work I have just 3 points

A successful restoration brought back the origin by now.

Change to

A successful restoration has brought it back to the original condition now.

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from July 1874 to 27th May 1919. Therefore the byname 'cash box'.


Change to

from July 1874 to 27th May 1919. Therefore it was given the byname 'cash box'.

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Approximately 200 Italian skilled workers from supported him at ground works.

Change to

Approximately 200, skilled Italian workers supported him with the ground works.


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Ok do these and it will fair well in peer review.


Bob...