The Przemysl Fortress is a powerful defensive complex, one of the largest permanent fortifications in Europe, only surpassed by Antwerp and Verdun. Its building began during the Crimean War (1853-1856) when also a war in Europe seemed inevitable. The main objective of the fortress was the defence of the strategic Przemysl Gate. Building of the fortress in Przemysl started in 1871 but was never completed.

In 1914 Przemysl had three lines of defence of which the outer ring, with a circumference of 45km, had 17 main forts. The inner defensive system was made up of 21 defensive forts. On the day of the outbreak of the war the fortress garrison stationed here numbered nearly 130,000 soldiers. During the first and second siege of the city the Przemysl fortress defended itself against Russian forces for 180 days. It only surrendered when the food ran out and further defence became impossible. The fortress was besieged for a third time but this time by German and Austrian armies and defended by the Russian Army.

In 1968 the destroyed and ruined forts were acknowledged as sites of defensive architecture. Today a tourist trail runs between the forts and is marked in black.

Przemysl City Office (woj. Podkarpackie)

www.przemysl.pl