Fort C was built at a time when the newly created railroad line from Cologne to Minden was to be protected against a perceived threat at the time. The railroad line connected the Prussian enclave of Minden with the possessions in the Rhineland, especially Cologne. Completed in 1847, the line marked the beginning of the development of the German countryside with a new supra-regional means of transport of strategic importance. Germany was not yet a unified empire, but a patchwork of competing and loosely united hegemonic states. Prussia was the largest of these, with its capital Berlin 350 kilometers away and its heartlands extending even further east. They saw their possessions threatened in particular by the neighboring non-Prussian kingdom of Hanover, which was linked to England. Minden station was the border, transfer and customs station for the onward line to the Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe and Hanover.

Minden was the link between Brandenburg-Prussia and the Prussian Rhine provinces. Its strategic importance led to its development into a fortress town in several construction phases between 1815 and 1873. During this time, the city was the strongest Prussian fortress between the Rhine and the Elbe.

The railroad station, which was opened in 1847 outside the city gates, had to be incorporated into the city fortifications. To this end, it was to be surrounded on a large scale by a strong lunette (fortifications in front, ramparts, flank batteries). The fortifications were built between 1846 and 1852.

Of the three forts A, B and C, Fort C, which is slightly further away, has been almost completely preserved in its original form to this day. For the other two forts, only the core buildings and their reduits remain.

From their locations, they secured the exits of roads and railroads in the direction of Bremen, Hanover and Berlin. Fort C guarded the railroad exit in the direction of Cologne. The exits were secured by gates named after the destination.

Today, the fortifications are considered a prime example of Prussian fortress architecture. This so-called neo-Prussian style used ramparts to hide all works from enemy view. The aim of this fortress architecture was to face the enemy head-on and flank them with superior fire. In front of a polygonal rampart was the main caponier (solid walled fortress section) with a horseshoe-shaped ground plan. Usually built on two levels, the cannon and rifle fire came from this fortification building. The firing area of the defense was supported by firing positions in front of it. The main caponier, for example, was preceded by a fortification with mortar batteries, which kept the front and side areas under fire. The fortifications were built between 1846 and 1852 according to the design of the engineer Major vom Platz Hardenack.

Price info

It is a public place where you don't have to pay admission.

This does not apply to events.

Directions & Parking facilities

The area around the train station is very suitable for parking. To visit Fort C, cross Viktoriastrasse and follow the signs.

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