Muzeum Historii Twierdzy „Fort Zachodni”
Museum in the 19th-century coastal fort Fort Zachodni, with a route around the fort, underground passages, a fire-control tower and an exhibition hall.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Fort Zachodni, German Westbatterie, was one of four fortifications built at the mouth of the Świna to defend the Świnoujście fortress. It was built in 1856–1861 as a small artillery redoubt, and in 1878–1887 it was expanded into a heavy, fortified coastal battery surrounded by a water moat. During the First World War four heavy 210 mm coastal guns were stationed here; the battery was later dismantled under the Treaty of Versailles.
During the Second World War the fort housed a 150 mm coastal battery subordinate to the Kriegsmarine artillery school, called “Henningsen” from 1940. Towards the end of the war it shelled Soviet positions near Dziwnów and Wolin. After the war, until 1961, Soviet forces occupied the fort and installed a coastal battery with three 127 mm guns. In the 1970s the underground casemates were used as stores for vegetables and fruit, which caused further damage.
In 2001 the fort was leased to the Stowarzyszenie Miłośników Fortów “Reduta” (“Reduta” Association of Fort Enthusiasts), and from June 2004 the site has been open to visitors. In 2008 the leaseholder changed and the Museum of Fortress History was officially registered. Many exhibits were found in the fort and its vicinity. Today visitors can walk the route around the entire fort, see the exhibition hall and learn about the nature that has found shelter here.
Highlights
- Self-guided route around the entire fort, with courtyards, underground passages and a gallery of artillery positions
- Fire-control tower
- Exhibition hall with objects found in the fort and its surroundings
- Real anti-aircraft guns that you can turn
- Route descriptions in Polish, German and English
Permanent exhibition
- Muzeum Historii Twierdzy „Fort Zachodni” – Route around the fort with courtyards, a fire-control tower, underground passages and artillery positions, and an exhibition hall with objects from the fort and its surroundings.
- Founded
- 2004
- Operated by
- Muzeum Historii Twierdzy „Fort Zachodni”
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 35 zł |
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| Reduced | 25 złpensioners, people receiving disability pensions, people with disabilities, children from 7 to 14 years old, groups of more than 20 people |
| Groups (21+ people) | 25 zł per personGroups of more than 20 people pay the reduced ticket price. |
Standard ticket PLN 35, reduced ticket PLN 25.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
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Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Parking is in front of the entrance to the fort.
Amenities & dining
From May to September a small food outlet operates.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Visitors tour the fort on their own along a marked route (courtyards, fire-control tower, underground passages, artillery positions on the gallery) and visit the exhibition hall. The route is marked with arrows and described in Polish, German and English; the full visit takes about an hour. |
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