Fort Gerhard (East Fort)

Fort Gerhard (Fort Gerharda) in Świnoujście is one of Europe's best-preserved 19th-century Prussian coastal forts, and a rare "living museum" where history is acted out rather than just displayed. It guards the mouth of the Świna River on Wolin Island, right beside Poland's tallest lighthouse, on Poland's border with Germany. Tours take the form of a mock Prussian boot camp led by a guide in period uniform, which makes this one of the most entertaining historical sights on the Polish Baltic coast.

Where it is

Świnoujście (roughly "shvee-no-OOY-shcheh"; German: Swinemünde) is Poland's westernmost seaside resort, about 100 km north of Szczecin and next to the German resorts on Usedom Island. Berlin is about a three-hour drive away and is the most practical international gateway. The fort stands on the eastern bank of the Świna, in the Warszów district, while the town center and beach are on the western bank.

A short history

Fort Gerhard, also called the East Fort or Werk II, was one of four works of the Prussian Swinemünde Fortress. The trigger was the First Schleswig War of 1848, when a Danish warship blockaded the Świna for several months and choked the port's trade. Built in 1848–1859, the fort has a pentagonal plan with earth ramparts, a moat, caponiers and a massive two-story keep (reduit). It is named after Gerhard Cornelius von Wallrave, an 18th-century Prussian military engineer who drew up early plans for the harbor.

In 1876–1877, funded by French reparations after the Franco-Prussian War, the fort was merged with the neighboring coastal battery. A new moat more than 800 m long was dug, and artillery terraces received Krupp guns: four 15 cm and seven 21 cm. The keep was turned into barracks, and by around 1900 the fort had a telegraph line and a narrow-gauge railway.

After World War I the German navy took over the site, and after 1945 it was used by the Soviet Red Army. Handed to the town in 1962, it served as a warehouse before living-history enthusiasts leased it in 2001. The Museum of Coastal Defense has been based here since 2010, and the fort opened to visitors in August 2011.

What to see

• The "recruit training" tour – a guide dressed as a Prussian drill sergeant marches you across ramparts, through casemates and dark corridors, setting small challenges along the way. It lasts about 75 minutes and is adapted to the group's age.
• The museum in the keep – weapons, uniforms and equipment spanning several centuries of the fortress; figures for the collection range from about 2,000 to over 10,000 items depending on the source. Museum entry is included.
• Heavy artillery – including a complete Krupp C/73 field gun with its limber, which the museum describes as the only one in Poland, and a 1931-model anti-aircraft gun.
• The parade ground – with the wreck of an Sd.Kfz. 7/2 half-track raised from the sea near Dziwnów in 2006.
• The gun line – a preserved row of positions for 150 mm and 210 mm coastal guns.

How to get there: boat only

Since April 13, 2023, the only road to the fort and lighthouse has been closed because of the security zone around the nearby LNG terminal, and the museum states that the fort cannot currently be reached by land. Instead, take an Adler Schiffe boat from the town center pier on Wybrzeże Władysława IV street (there is also a stop at the Bielik ferry crossing in Warszów). From April 1 to October 31, 2026, boats depart hourly from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm and return hourly from 10 am to 6 pm.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

• Combined ticket (round-trip boat, Świnoujście Lighthouse and guided fort tour): PLN 90 adults, PLN 64 children aged 6–14, under-5s free (2026 prices; the fort's own site lists PLN 68 for the reduced ticket, so double-check when buying).
• Tickets are sold at Adler Schiffe ticket offices and on its website.
• From May to September guides set off every 20–30 minutes; outside the season you explore on your own with a free printed guide.
• Winter 2026/27: the fort's website says it opens on weekends only from November 3 to January 1 and is closed in January. However, no boat timetable after October 31 has been published, so call the museum (+48 532 373 248) before you go.

Is it worth visiting?

Absolutely, especially with kids or if you enjoy military history told with humor. The museum says even babies have joined the "training," and the route is adjusted for visitors with limited mobility. Free toilets are available. Allow 3–4 hours including the boat trips and the lighthouse climb. Wear sturdy shoes, as parts of the route cross uneven ramparts, and bring a layer for the cool casemates. If you need a tour in English, ask the museum in advance.

Nearby: Świnoujście Lighthouse (67.7 m, 308 steps) is a few hundred meters away and included in the same ticket. The same museum runs the Underground City on Wolin Island, a Cold War bunker complex less than 5 km away. Across the river, the fortress's other surviving works, Fort Anioła (Angel's Fort) and Fort Zachodni (West Fort), are easy to combine in one day.