Zitadellengraben

Spandau Citadel is one of the most important and best-preserved High Renaissance fortresses in Europe. It lies northeast of Spandau's Old Town on the opposite bank of the Havel River, in the Berlin district of Haselhorst, and is one of the borough's best-known sights. At the heart of the complex stands a medieval castle, of which the keep and the palas (great hall) still survive. Between 1559 and 1594, a fortress was built around this historic core, reflecting the state of the art in military architecture at the time. Today the site is not only a historic monument but also a lively place with museums, events, and artists' studios.

The history of the site goes back to the 11th century, when archaeological finds point to a Slavic fortification. Later, the Brandenburg electors had the fortress built to protect the nearby residence city of Berlin. Construction began in 1560, with initial preparatory work already underway in 1557. Soldiers were first stationed here in 1580, and the building was completed in 1594. In 1620, the town of Spandau was surrounded by ramparts, which turned the fortress into a true citadel. Over the centuries, the complex witnessed numerous military events, including Swedish invasions, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Wars of Liberation, which caused severe damage and led to later restorations.

Architecturally, the citadel was designed by the Italian Francesco Chiaramella de Gandino, who was replaced in 1578 by Rochus zu Lynar. The symmetrically laid-out fortress has four bastions connected by curtain walls. This arrangement ensured there were no blind spots where attackers could hide. The quadrangle formed by the curtain walls measures 208 by 195 meters. A particularly notable structure is the gatehouse in the south curtain wall, which was shifted from the center to the west for defensive reasons. The present-day neoclassical facade dates from 1839 and replaced the original Renaissance facade, which had been damaged in war.

A landmark of the citadel is the 98-foot-high Julius Tower. A spiral staircase of 153 steps, reconstructed in 1964, leads to the top. From there, you get sweeping views over Spandau, downtown Berlin, and the Grunewald forest. The tower originally served as a defensive and watch tower as well as a place of refuge. The origin of its name is historically disputed and may go back to a Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel or to a Jewish chamber servant of Margrave Louis. After the Franco-Prussian War, part of the Imperial War Treasure was temporarily stored here, which led to the installation of a heavy vault door.

The palas, the Gothic hall building west of the gatehouse, was once the residence of the territorial rulers. Between 1520 and 1523, it was remodeled in Renaissance style. Today the building is being reconstructed in Neo-Gothic forms. Another important area is the west curtain wall, where excavations uncovered structural remains from the Middle Ages. Since 1994, these finds have been on display in the so-called Archaeological Window at Spandau Castle. There you can see the remains of a Slavic timber-and-earth wall, a stone castle wall, and the Renaissance palace complex.

Another cultural treasure is also housed in this exhibition area: a selection of 23 medieval Jewish gravestones. These stones were probably taken from the Spandau Jewish cemetery after the expulsion of the Jews from the Mark Brandenburg in the 16th century and used as building material for the castle. The inscriptions provide important information about Jewish life in the region and are considered a collection of European significance. The stones have now been restored and are displayed in the exhibition room of the west curtain wall.

Since 2016, the citadel has been home to the permanent exhibition "Unveiled – Berlin and Its Monuments" in the former provisions depot. The exhibition shows figures from the former Siegesallee (Victory Avenue) that were previously stored in the Lapidarium, as well as the head of the demolished Lenin monument from East Berlin. It explores the history of the city's monuments and how they have been handled. In addition to the museum offerings, concerts, festivals, and historical markets are held regularly on the grounds. An annual medieval festival and the Citadel Music Festival are fixtures of the citadel's cultural life.

The citadel is also an important habitat for bats. In the cellar of Building 4 there is a viewing enclosure where you can see Egyptian fruit bats and spectacled leaf-nosed bats. The NABU conservation organization and the staff of the Bat Cellar organize an annual bat festival and offer guided tours. The complex also serves as a filming location for numerous movies and TV productions, including Edgar Wallace films and modern productions. The citadel thus combines history, culture, and nature in a unique way and invites you to experience the multilayered history of Berlin and Spandau.