Fortifications

Fortifications are military constructions or buildings designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and also used to solidify rule in a region during peace time. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs. The term is derived from the Latin fortis ("strong") and facere ("to make").

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    Fort near Spijkerboor, North front, Defence Line of Amsterdam

    Fort near Spijkerboor (1913) is one of 42 fortifications of the so-called Defence Line of Amsterdam. Recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage site, Mostly mostly due to the ingenious concept of using controlled flooding, to stop the enemy.

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    Fort near Uithoorn, South front, Defence Line of Amsterdam

    The UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Defence Line of Amsterdam (in Dutch named Stelling van Amsterdam) is a 135 km long ring of fortifications around Amsterdam. Fort near Uithoorn, South front, Defence Line of Amsterdam.

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    Fort near Veldhuis, Northwest front, Defence Line of Amsterdam

    The Fort near Veldhuis had the job of defending the causeway coming from Heemskerk/Assumburg. This dike served in part to regulate the accurate flooding of the land on both of its sides (inundation dike). The defensible earthwork was completed in 1893, the shellproof building in 1897.

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    Fort near Velsen, Northwest front, Defence Line of Amsterdam

    This is the only Defence Line fortress made of concrete that has been partly demolished. The fort was outfitted, amongst others, with three turrets with 150 mm guns. These had a long range and could fire at targets as far as the estuary of the North Sea Canal and the area between the towns of Haarlem and Castricum.

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    Fort of Santa Luzia, Elvas

    Fort of Santa Luzia, Elvas. The well-preserved 17th Century fortifications of Fort de Santa Luzia to the north of the old town Elvas.

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    Fortification (Ruins), Stanislawczyk

    Fortification Ruins in Stanislawczyk village in the administrative district of Gmina Przemysl, within Przemysl County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland.

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    Fortifications of Vauban, Longwy

    The Fortifications of Vauban are 12 groups of fortified buildings and sites along the borders of France. Fortifications of Vauban, Longwy.

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    Fortified Castle (Ruins), Trojca

    Fortified Castle Ruins in Trojca village in the administrative district of Gmina Ustrzyki Dolne, within Bieszczady County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland.

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    Fortified church, Biertan

    The Biertan fortified church is a Lutheran fortified church in Biertan, Sibiu County, in the Transylvania region of Romania. It was built by the ethnic German Transylvanian Saxon community at a time when the area belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary.

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    Fortified church, Darjiu

    The Darjiu fortified church is a Unitarian fortified church in Darjiu, Harghita County, in the Transylvania region of Romania. It was built by the Szekely Hungarian community at a time when the area belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary.

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    Fortified church, Saschiz

    The Evangelical Church of Saschiz was built between 1493 and 1496 by Saxon colonists. The monument is very impressive due to its sheer size and the way the fortifying elements have been adapted to the shape of a church building.

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    Fortified Church, Sutkivtsi

    Fortified Church, Sutkivtsi village, Khmelnytsky oblast, Ukraine. Intercession Church-Castle was built conceivably as a dungeon of Sutkivtsi castle. In 1476 it was rebuilt into Intercession church as evidenced by an inscription on one of the bells.

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    Fortified church, Valea Viilor

    The Valea Viilor fortified church is a Lutheran fortified church in Valea Viilor (Wurmloch), Sibiu County, in the Transylvania region of Romania.

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    Fortified church, Viscri

    The Viscri fortified church is a Lutheran fortified church in Viscri, Brasov County, in the Transylvania region of Romania. It was built by the ethnic German Transylvanian Saxon community at a time when the area belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary.

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    Fortress (Ruins), Talmaciu

    Fortress Ruins near Talmaciu in Sibiu County, in central Romania, 20 km south of the county capital Sibiu.

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    Fortress of Aluston (Ruins)

    The Fortress of Aluston was constructed in VI century by Byzantines. It was expanding and step by step it developed into a small fortified town. The Fortress defended the coast against nomads, controlled the harbour and secured navigation of merchant vessels.