Bastions I, II and III of Fort Kościuszko in Kraków

Photogrammetry Poland

The Bastions I, II and III of Fort Kościuszko in Kraków were once an integral part of the citadel-type Fort No. 2 “Kościuszko” surrounding the Kościuszko Mound. Built in the mid-19th century, the fort was designed to protect Kraków Fortress from the west and was adapted for independent defense. Originally, the fort consisted of five bastions arranged around the mound and a central barracks building. Three of these bastions (numbered I–III), located on the western and southwestern side of the mound, were destroyed at the end of World War II and in the post-war years. For decades, the area remained neglected and forgotten, until modern revitalization efforts began. The following text presents the history of Bastions I–III, their post-war destruction, and the recent revitalization carried out by the Municipal Buildings Authority in Kraków.

History of Fort Kościuszko and Bastions I–III

Fort Kościuszko (Fort No. 2 of the Kraków Fortress) was built by the Austrians between 1850 and 1856 around the existing Kościuszko Mound. It was a citadel fort capable of independent defense, protecting the western flank of the fortress system. Architecturally, the fort took the shape of a star with five bastions surrounding the mound and a central barracks complex. Bastions I, II, and III were located to the west and southwest of the mound, while Bastions IV and V protected the eastern side.

Destruction of Bastions I–III after World War II

World War II caused serious damage to the fort. In January 1945, just before the liberation of Kraków, retreating German forces partially blew up the caponiers located in the moat between Bastions I and II and between II and III. Shortly after the war, the new authorities began a planned demolition of the damaged bastions, viewing the Austrian fortification as a “symbol of oppression” and a source of bricks for reconstruction. Under the pretext of gathering materials—for example, to build a youth dormitory—systematic demolition of Bastions I–III began. Between 1945 and 1956, the southwestern bastion and most structures of Bastions II and III, including caponiers and other defensive elements, were demolished, resulting in the near-total destruction of this part of the fort. Surviving fragments of walls and foundations were covered with soil and quickly overgrown with wild vegetation, hiding the remains for decades. Further destruction was stopped thanks to interventions by scholars and conservationists—at the turn of the 1950s and 60s, protests led by Professor Janusz Bogdanowski halted the demolition. As a result, in 1968, Fort Kościuszko was added to the heritage register as one of the first officially protected objects of Kraków Fortress. Additionally, in 2017, the President of Poland declared the Kościuszko Mound and its surrounding fort as a Historic Monument—a designation reserved for places of the highest historical and cultural value.

Revitalization of Bastions I–III by the Municipal Buildings Authority in the 21st Century

After decades of neglect, the area of the destroyed Bastions I–III became the subject of a comprehensive revitalization project. The first works began in 2011, starting with archaeological research and the gradual uncovering of the bastion walls and connecting curtain walls. The initiative was supported by the Social Committee for the Renovation of Kraków’s Monuments (SKOZK), which financed the uncovering and protection of unearthed fortification fragments. Subsequent stages included documentation development and the acquisition of external funding for full restoration. A decisive boost came in 2019 with the awarding of EU funds. From 2021 onward, the work accelerated and covered all three bastions. After approximately 13 years (with breaks), the project was completed: in autumn 2024, the revitalization of the former ruins was finished, and a new park at the foot of the Kościuszko Mound was officially opened. The aim of the project led by the Municipal Buildings Authority was to bring the degraded area back to life by adapting it for recreational and public use as a green park zone.

The revitalization work included:

• Uncovering and securing remnants of the original fortifications (e.g., parts of the bastions, caponiers, hangars, poterns, and curtain walls), including partial reconstruction.
• Partial reconstruction of selected elements—such as the reconstruction of a former well chamber and the vaulted (casemated) right flank of Bastion II, which helped outline the original layout.
• Creation of new park pathways across the bastions and installation of lighting and small architecture (benches, waste bins, bicycle racks) for visitor comfort.
• Educational and natural enhancements—historical and military-themed educational paths were created, with informational panels. Specially selected plant species referencing historical defensive vegetation were planted to enhance the site’s ecological value. A rainwater collection system was also installed to irrigate the greenery.
• Implementation of modern technology—the park was equipped with a multimedia information system based on QR codes and beacons, complemented by tactile maps for the visually impaired, enabling them to explore the site’s history.
• Adaptation of one of the uncovered caponiers into a small open-air amphitheater (approx. 140 seats) for cultural events in the summer season (film screenings, concerts, etc.). The interiors of preserved hangars and the second caponier were also arranged to serve as spaces for outdoor exhibitions and other cultural activities.

Thanks to these efforts, the stretch of ruined fortifications was transformed into an open green space (approx. 15 hectares), combining recreational, educational, and cultural functions. Additionally, a sensory garden for the visually impaired is planned on Bastion II (to be completed by mid-2025). The total investment amounted to approximately PLN 35 million, with significant external funding—around PLN 13.5 million was provided by the European Union (regional funds), and PLN 4.5 million came from SKOZK. After the revitalization, the area was handed over to the Municipal Greenery Authority, and the new park was named after Professor Janusz Bogdanowski (to honor the researcher who fought to preserve the fort decades earlier). The Bastions I–III revitalization project was also recognized on a national level—in 2025, it won the top prize in the “Top Municipal Investments” competition, as a model example of transforming a ruined historic site into a vibrant public space.