Heritage with Related Tags
The Great Wall
Around 220 BC, during the reign of Qin Shi Huangdi, sections of earlier fortifications were linked together to form a unified defense system to protect against invasions from the north. Construction of the Great Wall continued until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when it became the largest military structure in the world. Its historical and strategic importance is rivaled only by its architectural significance.
City of Luxembourg: its Old Quarters and Fortifications
Due to its strategic location, Luxembourg was one of the largest fortifications in Europe from the 16th century until the walls were demolished in 1867. Luxembourg was fortified several times as it passed from one European power to another: the Holy Roman Emperors, the House of Burgundy, the Habsburgs, the Kings of France and Spain, and finally the Prussians. Before being partially demolished, the fortifications were an excellent example of military architecture spanning several centuries.
Fortress of Suomenlinna
Built by the Swedes in the second half of the 18th century on a group of islands at the entrance to Helsinki harbour, the fortress is a particularly interesting example of European military architecture of the time.
Rohtas Fort
After defeating the Mughal Emperor Humayun in 1541, Sher Shah Suri built a strong fortification at Rohtas, a strategic location in present-day northern Pakistan. The fortification has never been captured and remains intact to this day. The main part of the fortification is a massive 4-kilometer-long wall, which is lined with bastions and has huge doorways. Rohtas Fort, also known as Qila Rohtas, is an example of early Muslim military architecture in Central and South Asia.
Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo
These Panamanian forts on the Caribbean coast are outstanding examples of 17th- and 18th-century military architecture, part of a system of defenses built by the Spanish crown to protect transatlantic trade.
Castel del Monte
Emperor Frederick II built the castle near Bari in the 13th century, giving it symbolic significance, reflected in its location, its layout with mathematical and astronomical precision, and its perfectly regular shape. Castello del Monte is a unique medieval military building that successfully combines elements from the Classical period, the Islamic East, and the Northern European Cistercian Gothic.
Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador)
Essaouira is an excellent example of a late 18th century fortified town, built according to contemporary European military architectural principles in a North African context. Since its founding, Essaouira has been an important international trading seaport, connecting Morocco and its Saharan hinterland with Europe and the rest of the world.
San Pedro de la Roca Castle, Santiago de Cuba
Commercial and political competition in the Caribbean in the 17th century led to the construction of a series of large fortifications on rocky promontories to protect the vital port of Santiago. This complex of forts, magazines, bastions, and batteries is the most complete and best-preserved example of Spanish American military architecture, based on Italian and Renaissance design principles.
Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains
Built during the period of Dacian rule in the 1st century BC and 1st century AD, these fortresses demonstrate a remarkable fusion of military and religious architectural techniques and concepts from the Classical world and the late Iron Age in Europe. These six fortifications were the core of the Dacian kingdom, which was conquered by the Romans in the early 2nd century AD; their extensive and well-preserved remains stand in a spectacular natural setting, presenting a vivid picture of a dynamic and innovative civilization.
Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park
Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is an outstanding example of well-preserved 17th and 18th century military architecture in the Caribbean. Designed by the British and built by African slave labor, the fortress stands as a testimony to European colonial expansion, the African slave trade and colonialism. Trade and the emergence of new societies in the Caribbean.