Zitadelle Wesel

The Wesel Citadel is the largest surviving fortress in the Rhineland. It was built from 1688 to 1722. The plans were made by Johan de Corbin. The citadel was laid out in a pentagonal star shape.

Elector Frederick Wilhelm I ordered the citadel to be built in Wesel. This would strengthen the existing fortress so that the citadel would connect to the existing city fortress.

The citadel at that time consisted of five bastions and five ravelins.

The main gate was built in 1718 and reinforced in the middle of the 18th century.

During the French occupation from 1805 to 1814, the fortress and the citadel were further expanded. The French built a two-story brick building with no basement in the citadel. This building still exists (the former barracks VIII).

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Source

• Text: Traces of war
• Photos: Willem Visser