Küstrin Fortress-Berliner Gate

The origins of Küstrin date back to 1232, strategically located at the confluence of the Oder and Warta rivers. After changing ownership, Küstrin came under Frederick II of Brandenburg in 1455. John of Brandenburg-Küstrin made the city his residence in 1535 and began its expansion with the construction of a castle (1535-1537), followed by the erection of the fortress. Initially, the fortifications (1537-1543) consisted of earthworks, which were damaged by floods. Therefore, the ramparts were reinforced with masonry between 1553 and 1568, and new sections were directly built in stone. The fortress was completed in 1568, featuring bastions such as König and Philipp, and city gates like the Berlin Gate. During the Thirty Years' War, Küstrin became Swedish in 1631 and the fortress was further expanded, a process later continued by Elector Frederick William. In the Seven Years' War, the fortress withstood a Russian siege in 1758. In 1806, it fell to Napoleonic troops, who occupied it until 1814 and further developed it. In the 19th century, the fortress was modernized again, including the construction of the “Neues Werk” fort and four outer forts. In 1877/78, the gatehouses of the Berlin Gate were demolished and rebuilt as a city gate with a double passage. Its military use ended in 1920. After World War I, the demolition of eastern city walls began. In World War II, Küstrin was again declared a fortress in 1945 and almost completely destroyed during the fighting. After the war, many fortress structures were blown up or dismantled for material. Since the 1990s, parts of the fortifications in the old town have been undergoing restoration.

The Berlin Gate of the Küstrin Fortress is located in Kostrzyn (Küstrin) in the Lubusz Voivodeship, in northwestern Poland, at an elevation of approximately 14 m above sea level.

Visitors today have the opportunity to visit the Berlin Gate as part of the Küstrin Fortress and explore the historic complex.

• Küstrin Fortress-Bastion König (Fortress), approx. 0.2 km away
• Küstrin Fortress-Bastion Brandenburg (Fortress), approx. 0.4 km away
• Küstrin Fortress-Hornwerk (Fortress), approx. 0.4 km away
• Küstrin Fortress-Kietzer Tor (Fortress), approx. 0.6 km away