Bastion V "Lubicz"
Fortress Kraków
Originally a standard redoubt fort from 1861-1866, a twin of Bastion III "Kleparz". Around 1888 traverses were built on the rampart, and after 1907 artillery barracks were added. The fort was partly demolished, levelled and buried under earth in 1950. Today the Mogilskie Roundabout lies on the site, and the ruins of the bastion were uncovered and put on display during the thorough rebuilding of the roundabout; conservation work on the ruins was completed in December 2008.
History
Bastion V "Lubicz" was the twin of Bastion III "Kleparz". It was part of the core of the Kraków Fortress, a high rampart with a moat, at whose angles Austrian engineers built bastions in 1854-1866. In the north and north-east two brick ones were put up: the Kleparz bastion, numbered III, and the Lubicz bastion, number V.
Lubicz was built in 1861-1866 as a standard redoubt fort, with a central redoubt and a classic moat with caponiers. Around 1888 traverses were added on the rampart, and after 1907 artillery barracks. By 1909 most of the old core of the fortress had been dismantled, but Lubicz survived along with Kleparz. During the Second World War its buildings were used as warehouses.
After the war the city decided the fort's fate. In the early 1950s a roundabout was laid out here, and the bastion was partly demolished and levelled, with the remains buried under earth. That is how Mogilskie Roundabout came into being. The ruins were only dug out and put on display when the roundabout was rebuilt in 2004-2008. Conservation work was completed in December 2008, when they were also opened to visitors. Today the remains of the bastion can be seen in the middle of the roundabout and at its south-eastern edge.
Did you know?
Building material from the demolished bastion was taken to Warsaw, where it was used to rebuild the city destroyed in the Second World War.