Active fortresses - conquering fortified cultural heritage in a sporty way Whether hiking, running, skating, biking, climbing or paddling, there are more and more attractive offers around fortresses for your own sporting activities or simply to watch. The fortress of Peschiera on Lake Garda (IT), for example, is surrounded once a year: At the „Palio della Mura“ rowing competition, teams paddle in gondolas...

Formerly cannon-proof - today a bombastic atmosphere Classical music in fortresses Exciting classical events in a historical setting are offered by many event fortresses. Highlights include the „Best of Mozart Series“ at Hohensalzburg Fortress (AT), with chamber concerts of Viennese classics, string quartets and solo performances throughout the year. Operas, operettas and musicals also enjoy great popularity in fortresses,...

Fortresses as places of remembrance Fortresses and fortifications have always had primarily military functions. They were built to keep attackers at bay and later often repurposed to hold prisoners. Many monuments are therefore closely linked to a long history of military conflicts and human tragedies. Today, monuments, memorials and exhibitions commemorate the fateful twists and turns...

Great battles, bivouacs and soldiers' lives Colourful uniforms, historical weapons, cavalry, artillery, swords and lances, bows and arrows - almost every era saw military conflicts over fortified buildings, which still have many fans today. Entire sieges and battles are artfully or martially re-enacted by thousands of protagonists. Be it the defence of the ideal fortress city of Palmanova...

Flowers, blossoms and magical nature where cannons once thundered At first glance, defiant fortresses don't seem to have much to do with nature. At second glance, however, they reveal an incredible variety of flora and fauna that leaves little to be desired. Fortress architects have always included the surrounding landscape in their defence strategy. Fortresses can be found...

Something for everyone: art, cultural history, everyday life, banal, special, mysterious, extravagant In the rooms and catacombs of huge fortress monuments, museums, galleries and exhibitions have a special effect. They enjoy unbroken popularity with young and old alike and present a wide range of topics from almost all areas of life in a variety of ways. Whether it's a museum of local history, the history of crafts, a collection of weapons of war, art, nature, religion or...

From youth hostels and flats to luxury hotels, the range of accommodation options in fortresses, castles and palaces is extensive. Guests can even book the dungeons of Klaipeda Fortress (LT) if they fancy a scare. The offers are varied and are often supplemented with exciting adventure programmes and lots of history. There are royal views...

Play worlds, learning and leisure activities, sport and fun in fortress monuments Round turrets with pointed roofs, red and white striped shutters, drawbridges and real cannons - fortresses, fortified castles, moated castles and palaces are wonder worlds straight out of a fairytale book for children. Many of them are lovingly staged and have special offers for the youngest visitors. At Königstein Fortress (Saxony), for example, children can visit the...