Fortifications in Poland

The tripto catalogue lists 72 fortifications: mountain and lowland fortresses, citadels, bastions, towers and the gates of old town walls.

Srebrna Góra Fortress is the largest mountain fortress in Poland, a Prussian stronghold from 1765–1777 with 151 casemates in its keep. Kłodzko Fortress combines bastions with a view of the Sudetes and an underground labyrinth of counter-mine tunnels visited with a guide. Modlin Fortress, at the confluence of the Vistula and Narew and built on Napoleon's orders, has barracks 2,250 metres long. In Giżycko, the 19th-century Boyen Fortress stands by Lake Niegocin, and in the forest near Kętrzyn you can see the ruins of the Wolf's Lair, Hitler's headquarters, where Stauffenberg's assassination attempt took place on 20 July 1944. In Poznań, Citadel Park covers about 100 hectares on the site of the former Fort Winiary.

Most fortifications are in the Opole region (over a dozen, including the gates and towers of Byczyna, one of the best-preserved town wall circuits in Poland), Lower Silesia (about 10) and West Pomerania (close to 10, with forts in Świnoujście and Kołobrzeg).

In practice: allow one and a half to three hours for a large fortress. Tickets usually cost 25–40 zł, and 68 zł at Srebrna Góra in season; towers, gates and walls can usually be seen for free. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a torch or phone light for the tunnels. Fortresses are open all year, but from April to October they offer more routes and historical re-enactments.