Fort 50½ "Kosocice"
Fortress Kraków
An armoured fort from 1897-1899, designed by Emil Gołogórski; in 1945 it was stripped of its armoured and observation turrets. It defended the railway line to Przemyśl and the Lwów Road. In December 1914, together with the neighbouring forts 50 "Prokocim" and 51 "Rajsko", it withstood the main weight of the Russian attack on Kraków. The fort is in good condition, open to visitors from time to time, and forms part of the Fortress Kraków Museum. It stands on J. Hallera Street.
History
Fort 50 ½ O, known as "Barycz" or "Kosocice", together with the neighbouring Fort 50 ½ W forms a pair of armoured close-defence forts. Both were designed by Emil Gołogórski and built in 1897-1898 on the south-eastern ring of the Kraków Fortress to strengthen the defences between the "Prokocim" and "Rajsko" forts on the Wieliczka side. The eastern fort was meant to cover the railway line to Przemyśl and the Lviv road.
In December 1914, together with the neighbouring "Prokocim" and "Rajsko" forts, it took the main blow of the Russian advance on Kraków and stopped it. After the First World War the site remained in military hands. In 1945 it was stripped of its armoured and observation turrets, and during the Cold War it was converted for civil defence purposes. Until 2019 it was used by the Lesser Poland Voivodeship Office. Despite these changes the fort has survived in fairly good condition, with remains of the turrets and pieces of armoured equipment, and the whole property is entered in the register of monuments. It stands on Hallera Street, near the Kosocice parish church.
Did you know?
The two forts in Kosocice are linked by an old lateral military road that zigzags around the fields. It offers a wide view of the Świątniki Plateau, the Beskid Średni (Middle Beskids) and old Kraków and its surroundings.