This unique example of Tsarist defensive architecture is found in the Biebrza National Park in Goniadz district. It is open to the public in parts. The fortress location held an important strategic significance and as it guarded one of the crossings of the Biebrza marshes and wetlands, this further added to its defensive qualities.

Construction of the fortress took place between 1882 and 1915 when four forts were built. The main fort was the only one in Russia built in an original way – entirely from poured concrete monoliths. It was also of an unusual size (its circumference was 2.6km) and contained, in addition to the usual military buildings, an army barracks, warehouses, brick and wooden housing and a church.

The tsarist fortifications proved successful as the fortress was attacked three times by the German Army in World War I and never captured. However during the war in 1939 the fortress did not play any role as the German Army went around the Biebrza Marshes at this point. Today only one of the forts is open to visitors whilst the main fort is only partially accessible (it houses the Museum of the Osowiec Fortress).

Monki City Hall (woj. Podlaskie)

www.monki.com.pl