Star-shaped forts are a particularly interesting type of fortification. They first appeared around the time that gunpowder became commonly used in warfare (first seen in the mid-15th century in Italy). The unusual shape of the forts and the fact that they were made of hard-to-shatter brick (rather than the traditional stone) helped the forts stand up to cannonball fire. These incredible structures are among the most memorable, the most beautiful, and the most historically important forts from around the world.
1. Fort Carré, France
Fort Carré is a 16th-century fort on the outskirts of Antibes, France. The fort was built by architect Henri de Mandon. Reworked by Vauban at the end of the 17th century, the fort was never captured by enemies.
Fort Carré of Antibes played an important role in the town's defences in 1860, the year when the county of Nice was annexed to France. During the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte was briefly imprisoned here. [map]
2. Naarden, Netherlands
Naarden is an example of a star fort, complete with fortified walls and a moat. The walls and the moat have been restored and are in a very good state. This fort has an intriguing star shape with six points. These points are called "the bastions" with the small island fortress in between, called "ravelins". Inside the fortress is located the town of the same name. [map]3. Kronborg, Denmark
Kronborg is a castle and star fortress in the town of Helsingør, Denmark. The castle is situated on the extreme northeastern tip of the island of Zealand at the narrowest point of the Øresund, the sound between Denmark and Sweden. In this part, the sound is only 4 km (2.5 mi) wide, hence the strategic importance of maintaining a sea fortress at this location commanding one of the few outlets of the Baltic Sea.
Immortalized as Elsinore in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Kronborg is one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe and was added to UNESCO's World Heritage Sites list on November 30, 2000. [link, map]
4. Fort de La Prée, France
The Fort de La Prée is a French fortification located near the eastern end of the Ile de Ré (an island off the west coast of France).
The fort was built by French officer Toiras, Governor of the island, following the capture of the recovery of the island by Royal troops against Huguenot insurgents in the Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré (1625). [link, map]5. Castle of Good Hope, South Africa
The Castle of Good Hope is a star fort built in the 17th century in Cape Town, South Africa. Originally located on the coastline of Table Bay, following land reclamation the fort is now located inland. In 1936 the Castle was declared a national monument and following restorations in the 1980s it is considered the best preserved example of a Dutch East India Company fort. [link, map]6. Fort Independence, USA
Fort Independence is a granite star fort that provided harbor defenses for Boston, Massachusetts. Located on Castle Island, Fort Independence is the oldest continuously fortified site of English origin in the United States. The existing granite fort was constructed between 1833 and 1851. Today it is preserved as a state park and fires occasional ceremonial salutes. Fort Independence was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1970. [link, map]
7. Bourtange, Netherlands
Fort Bourtange is a star fort located in the village of Bourtange, Groningen, Netherlands. It was built in 1593. Its original purpose was to control the only road between Germany and the city of Groningen.
After experiencing its final battle in 1672, the Fort continued to serve in the defensive network on the German border until it was finally given up in 1851 and converted into a village. Fort Bourtange currently serves as a historical museum. [link, map]
8. Fort McHenry, USA
Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay September 13-14, 1814.
It was during the bombardment of the fort that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write "The Star-Spangled Banner," the poem that would eventually be set to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven" and become the national anthem of the United States. [link, map]
9. Almeida, Portugal
The Fortress of Almeida, a mere seven kilometers from the Spanish border, was originally a castle built in the 14th century, overlooking the natural boundary between the two nations: the River Coa. Almeida was the main Portuguese fortress on the northern invasion route from Spain, matching the Spanish fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo. Today, inside the fort is located the town of the same name, and it is a very popular tourist destination. [map]
10. Palmanova, Italy
Palmanova Fortress - star fort surrounding town of Palmanova in Italy. It consists of three rings, which were built in stages. First circle with a circumference of 7 km were built in 1593, its construction took 30 years.
The second phase of construction took place between 1658-1690. Between 1806 and 1813 were performed last works. The fortress consists of: 9 ravelins (triangular fortification), 9 bastions, 9 lunettes (outwork), 18 cavaliers. [link, map]
11. Fort Ontario, USA
Fort Ontario is located on the east side of the Oswego River on high ground overlooking Lake Ontario. It was one of several forts erected by the British (1839) to protect the area around the east end of Lake Ontario. Today, Fort Ontario is owned by the state of New York and operated as a museum known as Fort Ontario State Historic Site. [link, map]
12. Goryōkaku, Japan
Goryōkaku is a star fort in the city of Hakodate in southern Hokkaidō, Japan. This fortress was built by the Tokugawa shogunate (feudal regime of Japan) in 1857-1866. Shaped like a five-pointed star, it allowed for greater numbers of gun emplacements on its walls than a traditional Japanese fortress, and reduced the number of "blind spots" where a cannon could not fire.
Today, Goryōkaku is a park. It has been declared a Special Historical Site and is home to the Hakodate city museum. The grounds are a favorite spot for hanami - the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers. [link, map]
13. Neuf-Brisach, France
Built in 1697 along the Rhine, Neuf Brisach was built to replace the demolished town of Villa Nueve. The planned community in the interior of the fortress, was laid out in a grid formation that’s relatively unusual in Europe.
This fortress was built by Vauban, a military engineer at the service of Louis XIV. In 2008, the new town of Neuf-Brisach was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of the "Fortifications of Vauban" group. [link1, link2, map]
14. Citadel Hill (Fort George), Canada
Fort George (named after King George II of Great Britain) is a National Historic Site in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and was established during Father Le Loutre's War (18th century) to protect the protestant settlers against raids by the French, Acadians, and Wabanaki Confederacy.
Today the fortress is restored to the Victorian period (XIX century) and there are re-enactors of the famed 78th Regiment of Foot (highland infantry regiment raised in late 18th century in Scotland) and the 78th Highlanders Pipe Band (grade one pipe band) who were stationed at Halifax for almost three years (1869-1871). [link, map]
15. Kastellet, Denmark
Kastellet, located in Copenhagen, Denmark is one of the best preserved fortifications in Northern Europe. It is constructed in the form of a pentagram with bastions at its corners. Kastellet was continuous with the ring of bastioned ramparts which used to encircle Copenhagen but of which only the ramparts themselves Christianshavn remain today. A number of buildings are located within the grounds of Kastellet, including a church, as well as a windmill. The area houses various military activities but its mainly serves as a public park and a historic site. [link, map]
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