Spandau Citadel

In spite of damage and additions, the Spandau citadel is one of the best preserved Renaissance fortresses in Germany and still gives us an impression of how people in the 16th century tried to defend themselves against enemies.

The oldest parts of the fortifications date from the Middle Ages, and the Juliusturm tower, which is the emblem of Spandau, dates from the beginning of the 13th century and may be the oldest masonry structure in the city - and is certainly the oldest secular building.

Even in Slavic times, the point where the rivers Spree and Havel met was a place of great military importance, especially because it was possible to cross the Spree here. Archaeologists have excavated remains of a Slavic fortress which was replaced by a stone fortress in the 12th century after the Ascanians came to power. A "Protector Eberhard of Spandau" was first mentioned in 1197. The margraves often stayed in the Spandau fortress and staunchly supported the development of the

nearby merchants' settlement.

The Juliusturm tower, named after Julius von Braunschweig-Wolffenbüttel, the son-in-law of Joachim II., served as a keep, as the last place of refuge in the fortress; the battlements were added by Schinkel. For many years the tower served as a dungeon for prisoners of state, and until 1918 the "Reich war treasure", consisting of reparation payments by France after the war of 1870/71, were kept under close

guard here. The adjoining palace, the actual residential building, dates from the 15th century. At least two previous buildings are known to have existed on the site.

The decision to modernise the fortress in accordance with contemporary knowledge of fortress construction was made at the regional council meeting in Spandau in 1559. The Elector justified it with the need to protect the citizens of Spandau and his courtly state in nearby Berlin. The plans were by Francesco Chiaramella de Gandino, and the first construction supervisor was Christoph Römer before the Italian himself took over the work. The building was completed in 1594 under Count Rochus zu Lynar.

The central structure of the citadel is a square pattern, with four pointed bastions known as "König", "Kronprinz", "Brandenburg" and "Königin" at the corners (clockwise from the entrance). The fortress is surrounded by a moat.

The facade of the gatehouse, which contained the commander's

res­idence above the portal, dates from 1839; only the sandstone gable is older. An impression of the original appearance can be gained from the courtyard side.

The barracks on the northern side and the magazine buildings in the east were added in the 19th century, and in the 1930s the buildings of the "army gas protection laboratories" were built, in which 300 people worked on the development of chemical weapons.

Today the citadel is used for cultural purposes - and as winter quarters for 10000 bats.

Copyright: Arnt Cobbers, Architecture in Berlin, The most Important Buildings and Urban Settings, 2nd edition 2002, ISBN 3-89773-103-7, Jaron Verlag