Throughout the history of warfare, fortified sites have played a prominent role. Fortresses signified territorial control and power, reflected the state of technological development, and served as a broader expression of culture. They were also consistently imbued with symbolic associations of power and protection, and imagined as places of longing. The exhibition presented here by the Military History Museum explores these questions and their historical development across twelve chapters.

The technology, design and armament of defensive structures continued to evolve over the course of millennia. At the same time, the techniques and tactics used to besiege and conquer these places of refuge changed. The social significance of such strongholds can hardly be overstated, as reflected in the English words ‘burgher’ and ‘borough’, both derived from the German ‘Burg’ (castle).