Daugavpils Fortress (Daugavpils)

 castle, fortification, Classicism, interesting place, listed building / architectural heritage, Napoleonic Wars 1803-1815

Daugavpils fortress is stylistically monolithic Classicism style ensemble, reflecting the urban construction ideas of the time. Monumental fortification system consists of ramparts, bastions, ravelins, dungeons with massive brick arches and other elements. The construction of the fortress was started in 1810 (engineer J.F.Hekel). The foundation forms a fortified town, where the territory is divided into quarters. There was an angular square in the middle part and the Jesuit cathedral was located at one side (1737 - 1746) vertical dominant of the ensemble (destroyed in 1944). A detail plan for the fortress was drafted in 1816 after the design of architect I. Truzson. The plan determines functional zones, differentiate streets and other details. The main buildings of the fortress are the barracks, dwelling houses for officers, hospital, staff and commandant buildings, engineers' and artillery arsenal as well as fortress gates and other edifices built in 1816 - 1830 after the design of architect A.E.Shtaubert. Daugavpils fortress is a significant fortification building, the only one of this kind and scale in the Baltic states. It is well maintained and gives an overall impression of the civil engineering achievements of the time. The fortress influenced the development of quality military architecture all over the Daugavpils city, developed as well in the classicism style on the iron-grid based urban lay-out.