The less well-preserved outer walls have less closely spaced towers every 40 meters or so. Fortified "star city" Lucca, Italy. In a previous article I showed what appears to be a star fort on a 1773 map of the Chicago area, at a time before Chicago was said to exist: Below is one example of a big star fort outline in New Mexico, only discoverable using satellite images. Our dedicated contributors: writers, photographers, researchers, and filmmakers are the core of this project and this is what makes Revisiting History unique! It was constructed in the 11th centuryand is colloquiallyknown as 'The Key to England.' The map below will generally be updated more often than the downloadable Google Earth file. They were the evolved versions of the medieval keep. Category:Star forts - Wikipedia I grew up living next to one of these. Dear Government, isnt it fascinating that there are remains of a gigantic star fort near this site? But its dishonest to add newly made fake-cannons to support a preconceived narrative. Star Forts or Ancient Power Stations Secret Energy Considering how small the Netherlands is, you might be surprised to hear that its country with more star forts than anywhere in world, counting a whopping 97 bastion forts within its borders. The unique thing about it is that its constructed entirely of brick, and is 588 meters (1929 ft) above sea level. I have always had an interest in classical fortifications and castles. List of forts - Wikipedia The Citadel has, for centuries, been occupied and developed by the Greeks, Byzantines, Ayyubids, and Mamluks. Perhaps the only feature that was retained in star forts from medieval castle defense was the moat. This happened in 1453 and was a huge blow to medieval castle architecture. Located in the Isles of Sicily, Star Castle St. Marys hails back to the 16th century when it was commissioned and used by Queen Elizabeth to protect the area. Just ask Lady Liberty, whose base is made from Ellis Islands star fort. and love of course! To "make strong" would be a concept that would drive humans to build ever more complex and impressive defensive structures. A Bucket List of Star Cities Scattered Across our Globe - Messy Nessy Chic Source: Cadw/Wikimedia Commons, Ankara Castle as seen from Haci Bayram Mosque, Ankara. Circa 1594, Bourtange was integrated into the general fortification chain on the border of the area's Northern Provinces. Star forts were not limited to the Western world. Despite its reputation amongst the populace, it was initially intended as a royal residence. Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, or the Tower of London for short, is an example of the world's great fortresses that needs no introduction. We feel it is important to question the purpose of the star forts because there is a lot to be learned from these massive structures. It was built between May 18th, 1961, and February 8th, 1966. The starfort concept was adopted by nearly every European nation and in the New World from the 16th through 19th centuries. Spi Castle in Slovakia is one of Europe's largest castle sites. It was actually Michelangelo, Renaissance man extraordinaire, who first dreamt up star forts in his role as Governor of Fortifications for Florence. Star forts were popular because they allow defense to have a larger surface area of attack and larger range of view than other simple patterns. The highly defensible location has been fortified since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century. Marud-Janira is the name given to an impressive fort on an island of the coastal village of Murud, India. This event would make the fort a central piece of Spanish Nationalist lore in times to come. Today, a large proportion of the upper area of the Rock is a nature reserve and is famed for its Barbary macaques. Built in 1593 (during the Eighty Years War), both the Spanish and Germans laid siege to the fortress, but neither could conquer it. Just like its accomplice, its used to increase the area of fortification. It was built by Edward I during his highly successful conquest of Wales between 1283 and 1289. Although the star-shaped forts are dispersed worldwide and were built over centuries, the architectural features are so similar that they appear as if they could have been designed by a single engineer. Colonel Jos Moscard Ituarteresisted a siege from an overwhelming Spanish Republican force. In 1520, star forts were employed by the famous Michelangelo in the defensive earthworks of Florence and refined in the 16th century by Baldassare Peruzzi and Vincenzo Scamozzi. William the Conqueror ordered its construction in 1078. I spent an hour looking for the image above or an explanation for the red lines and came up empty. Wikipedia says they are military installations. The multi-layered star-formation no longer exists today. Source: Knowledge Seeker/Wikimedia Commons, Entrance to the Fort, now a museum. In school I was taught that the area was overrun by warrior-like tribes at the time and the newly arrived Europeans were builders of simple carriages and wooden cottages. For more information or to contact me with a fort not listed here, visit. Starforts.com: A World of Starforts. Fort Kalamata. One such fortification would become what we know today as Dover Castle. Also, check out StarForts.com! Lack of care ensured that these bastions crumbled and couldnt withstand the tests of time. I . Youd think it would be easy to find out what they mean, in this age of information where we supposedly have access to all records. Not the warden, not a nearby tourist officer, not the lady in the ticket booth. Being able to discern the truth is a powerful virtue in this age of information. They were relatively flat structures with lozenge-like protrusions that gave them their star homonym. I dont subscribe to any of these stories, neither official nor alternative. It would remain under their command until it was besieged and lost in 1271. At first I didnt know what this flag meant. They feel out of place. Biles is 26. All rights reserved. There is a star fort called Ft. Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park, on an island which lies 68-miles, 109-kilometers, further west of Key West, and is only accessible by ferry or boat. Source: Fritz-Gerald Schrder/Wikimedia Commons. A bastion fort, star fort or trace italienne, is a fortification in a style that evolved during the age of gunpowder when the cannon came to dominate the battlefield. Fun fact: Michelangelo defended Florence with the help of star forts. Are they energy rays? Join the conversation on Twitter using#FortressEarth or join the Facebook group! something like 1 brick is equal to a AA battery. In 1309 the Grand Master of the Order moved his office to Malbork. Below, well take a look at each of their architectural elements in detail: These were low, sloppy retaining-wall-style structures (more like earthen banks), that formed part of the boundary wall. Another star fort pioneer was the engineering advisor of Frances King Louis XIV, Sbastien Le Prestre deVauban. Enter your email and Ill send you my latest stories. what are star forts and star cities in 5 minutesquick crash clurse for new comers to the subject share the granny out of it.. not for view count.. but to wak. Today it is a must-see landmark in London, not to mention the United Kingdom. The star fort, also known as the bastion fort, trace italienne, or renaissance fortress, was a style of fortification that became popular in Europe during the 16th century. Established in 1300, the town of Naarden was taken over by Spanish troops in 1572, and when the Dutch regained control shortly thereafter, they built up its fortifications. Richard II also used the castle as a safe haven 1399, and it was held by forces loyal to Owain Glyndwr in 1401. It can be found in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. I say this so easily because only 1 hour south of St. Augustine we find a town called New Smyrna. Star forts are marvels of engineering and design. They were meant to divide the oncoming enemy forces. After their decisive victory, the new Norman overlords began a campaign of fortifying their new prize. Star Forts of the World | Google Earth Community Forums Today, it houses The National War Museum which covers almost 7000 years of Maltan history. Being the somewhat obsessive person that I am, I began to create a file that will, Afghanistan - 242 forts : Algeria -34 forts, Vietnam - 42 forts : Zimbabwe - 4 forts, To directly download the Google Earth file, you can get it, https://sites.google.com/site/mymappingprojects/fortress-earth. However, their tall and straight walls provided zero protection against the might of gunpowder-operated canons. Bells went off when I first saw them years ago Starforts.com exists because starforts are really cool! Today it is a popular tourist spot in South Wales and is now owned by the state and managed by CADW. Below, well take a look at everything you need to know about these types of forts. It can be hard to know who to trust because of all the disputes and suspicions in the educational system, politics, and world history. Probably derived from Jazeera (meaning island). But it was conquered 100 years later by Louis XIV. There must be more to them. Everyone Ive talked to about star forts in the last five years, didnt even know what I was referring to! Today it is a monument of enormous national significance and is Grade I listed. This invention traveled across the European and Asian continents and was popularized as the main mode of wartime attacks by the 14th century. Fort . The other Pillar of Hercules,Mons Abyla or Jebel Musa,is located on the African side of the Straits of Gibraltar. God is opening the minds and hearts of those who are seeking "his. Alcazar is most famed for its part in the Spanish Civil War. First on our list of great fortresses is one that would be of great strategic importance for millennia. They had unique architectural components and were a study in might. The star forts locations on hallowed ground underscore their possible symbolic significance, because these places either were, or would become scenes of survival, death, and the afterlife! The entire fortress is enclosed by imposing thick walls protecting a series of palaces. You need to purchase an Ambassador subscription to use Sibyl AI. I am not ruling out military use or repurposing. And when was the last time any major architect built a structure in the shape of a star? The Crusaders recaptured it in 1101, and the Seljuks would later win it back in 1227. Lets first show that star forts and cities are global. But its difficult for me to accept that there are people representing the place that have no idea what any of it means and cannot answer questions outside of their indoctrinated data. Its current form really took shape under Henry II in the 13th century. Today it offers unparalleledviews of Turkey's Capital City and is, interestingly, still inhabited. From the early 19th century,its importance as a Scottish symbol has grown from strength to strength. The Version 2 file has 1,399 forts (up from 1,238 in Version 1)from 94countries (up from 88), which includes traditional star forts, fortified "star" cities, and other closely related fortifications. It gained fame during theGreat Siege of Maltaof 1565, for example, but was also modified by the British in the 19th century, then used in WWII, and so on. That is possibly one use, but many researchers have found evidence for other uses. There is an alternative History view that star forts were free-energy generators, part of a worldwide grid that supplied the world and its inhabitants with energy. It wasnt until the French invasion of Italy that the first-star fort came into being. The Lost History of Our Past And Flat Earth - Star Forts - YouTube It was used by the army until recently and is still well-maintained. A vast number of surviving star forts today however, lie in ruins, like the nearby Forte Marghera in Venice, established in the 18th century and today an urbex playground. Mysterious Star Forts, Stellar Symbols of a Forgotten Past It's one of the star forts around the world. It is not uncommon to find impact marks from cannonballs fired at it by the armies of Jaipur. Today it still houses and protects the Bohemian Crown Jewels in a hidden, locked, and secret chamber. Even the bricks are laid in the same way as the strange Pyramid nearby: I was lucky enough to see both structures, for direct comparison. Its architecture consisted of a full-fledged bastion in the middle, which was flanked by two half-bastions on either side. Source: Kim Traynor/Wikimedia Commons, Malbork Castle is primarily made of brick. Star forts, while having a delightfully whimsical name, originated under somewhat dark circumstancesthe invention and use of cannons and gunpowder in warfare. If the huge, previously impenetrable, walls of Constantinople had been breached, what hope did the rest of the European and English castles have? The fort is, in effect, a huge, heavily fortified island. Did you ever realize that Nazca isn't the only place with mysterious drawings and lines? It contains 15 subterranean facilities that are threestories tall, each earthquake and explosion proof. The external gate was shelled in an exchange between the Free Syrian Army and Syrian Army in a class for control of the Citadel. The Star Fort conspiracy. Some star forts are called - Reddit Share this article far and wide, The design of the fort is normally a polygon withbastionsat the corners of the walls. The site would become heavily fortified with massive masonry walls and equally impressive earthworks. But if the purpose of these geometric shapes is only for tactical defense, you wouldnt need them for pleasure gardens. In 1625, the French officer Toiras led the Royalist troops when they captured R from the Huguenots under the command of admiral Duke of Soubise. The star fort I visited in St. Augustine added brand new cannons to the structure to support this same narrative. The story goes like this: the French were armed with canons and the straight, high walls of medieval forts proved to be absolutely vulnerable against them. French forces would eventually recapture it in 1916, officially bringing a close to the battle. Their design is a by-product of the invention of gunpowder. The Pyramid appears to use the same rock and have the exactly same aged look as the St. Augustine fort. It has been the site of some of the most prominent moments in British History. This is Fort Mont Alban near Nice, France: What follows is an antique map of the area and star fort. One of the most well-preserved examples of a star fort, Fort Bourtange was built in 1593. Following this, it would fall into disuse and become a ruin in 1665. There are plenty of star forts we only knew from old paintings because they no longer exist: The image above is the Romanian city of Timisoara. Today it's an open-air museum and well worth a visit. The Star Fort was an earthen fort. The fort was never taken. Oescus Roman fortress, Gigen. All but one of the ancient mounds were destroyed and built over. In the NEWEARTH documentary below, you will see how probable it is that these forts originally had a different purpose. New sites are bound to be located. This particular star fortress is located in Germany, and was constructed on land previously occupied by a Baroque fort. Lost your password? This is a side-project of #FortressEarth (which is trying to map every fort and castle visible via satellite). I created a special file that has every star fort I have been able to find, and, as far as I can tell, has 90% of all star forts still in existence. Theyre well worth the time to get to know and visit for the majestic views and stunning geometry they feature. This at one time was a cosmic landscape honoring life and death. As a result, the castle fell into ruin and remains so to this day. Knigstein Fortress, known as the 'Saxon Bastille,' is a 13th-century hilltop fortress near Dresden, Germany. By The Marine Mammal Center. It should be noted that most of them were dry ditches. Kovachevsko kale, Kovachevets. It dominates my hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Source: Memorino/Wikimedia Commons, Aerial view of the castle's impressive defences. Star forts first appeared in Italy at the end of the 15th century. Ankara Kalesi (Ankara Castle) is an impressive fortification in the middle of the Republic of Turkey's capital, Ankara. It emerged in China, but it wasnt until the 12th century that the very first iterations of cannons started appearing. The building was severely damaged by the end of the siege, but it would be rebuilt after the war's conclusion. No doubt there will be places missing given the scope of this project, soif you know of a place I don't have marked, let me know! The enormity of its architecture is truly awe-inspiring, but clearly not appreciated by all, as a Bavarian minister circa the 19th century, sold off all the removable parts of the castle. It has, unsurprisingly, had a significant defensive role in the history of Great Britain. This sacred landscape was inclusive of burial mounds, circle mounds, and temple mounds! This type of wall structuring ensured that there would never be significant damage even when the canon was fired at it. Not a bad side hustle for the artist. Michelangelos Drawings for the Fortifications of Florence. Slotsgade 34, 5800 Nyborg, Denmark", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_bastion_forts&oldid=1162718506, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing explicitly cited English-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, Castillo del Prncipe, Havana (turned into a prison), Fort de Tourneville, Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, Star Fort, formerly Fort Alabama, Winchester, Virginia, This page was last edited on 30 June 2023, at 19:05. These are reenactments she said. I n between the bricks and stones of each individual fort lies a mortar filled with a multitude of stories of lives lived and lives taken. And so, they ordered them to be partially disarmed and manned them with skeleton crews. But Scamozzis Wikipedia page fails to mention this gargantuan feat. Like Caerphilly Castle, it withstood a siege from Welsh rebel Madog ap Llewelyn in 1294. Gunpowder and canons would render these monumental structures obsolete and force a change to low-rise earthworks, e.g., star forts, commonly seen from the 18th century onwards. The true purpose and technology behind these impressive erections are worth questioning as they may provide solutions to the problems of today. But that doesnt fit official History because the Spanish were not known for building Pyramids, they were known for destroying them. It was used for centuries as a state prison and is largely intact. Its defenses were not just for show; they were tested repeatedly during the 13th and 14th centuries. It was built by the Teutonic Order in 1406 after their conquest of Poland sometime before. The walls are built from large amounts of masonry, which is recycled from older buildings in the city. The development of explosive shells once again revolutionized fortress design. Hilltop, ring-shaped castles proved effective. Its interesting they mention cannons. Mainstream historians assure us that the forts peculiar shape helped the people in charge of them to cover the dead zones for protection during battles. The mission of Starforts.com was initially to be the definitive list of all the world's . They also provided shelter against the cannon fire from multiple directions. Mum & Dad named me Vanessa, but you can call me Nessy. They spread around the globe and hold a special place in history, as well as a special place in the hearts and minds of those with an interest in forts. I guess its a stretch to call this a star fort, but well see in a moment why the worldwide star fort builders and pyramid builders might be related. Like many of the world's Greatest Fortresses, it was built on a much earlier fortification site. It said to be the oldest masonry fort in the Continental United States in 1672 when Florida was part of the Spanish Empire. The architecture was already oriented to maximize the views of the Isles, so the rooms at the hotel have plenty of fresh air and provide excellent views of the outdoors. So with that and the fact there built to some type of frequency they look like cymatic patterns I mean you cant just ignore those facts. Before 1464, the castle was owned by the Kings of Hungary. The Largest Palaces in the World (History & Travel Tips), Biggest Castles in the World (History & Travel Tips). The northern . These are the sparkling new cannon-additions: Its not clear in the image but when you are there you see the cannons are new. They did prove that red bricks have electrical properties. There are also gigantic forts that are overgrown and almost no longer recognizable as star forts, such as this one, Willemstad Netherlands: The one below is in Goryokaku, Japan. 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In contrast, star forts were designed with low walls. ***, Afghanistan - 242 forts : Algeria -34 forts Andorra - N/A : Antigua - 3 forts Armenia - 29 forts : Australia - 61 forts Azores - 30 forts : Bahamas - 3 forts Bahrain - 3 forts :Belarus - 37 forts Belgium - 378 forts : Bermuda - 14 forts, Bhutan - 18 forts : Brazil - 48 forts, Burma - 43 sites :Canada - 113forts, Chile - 17 forts : Colombia - 4 forts, Cuba - 13forts : Cyprus - 13 forts, Domin. Architectural Digest may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Nobody knows enough about anything to make a final conclusion on what happened. Today it is one of Prague's most popular tourist attractions, receiving an estimated 1.8 million visitors every year. This makes it Saxony's deepest and Europe's second deepest well. Archaeological evidence suggests the site has been occupied since at least the 3rd century BC. 7 Magnificent Forts on the French Coast | Amusing Planet Fortress Earth - mymappingprojects - Google Sites A star fort is also known as a bastion fort or trace italienne. Even today, travellers frequently visit the city without even noticing its unique shape. At least 26 separate sieges have been undertaken against the castle in its 1100-year history. Japanese researchers find a simple and affordable way to store hydrogen, Ex-NASA Space Shuttle astronaut has a plan to get humans to Mars fast, Video: World's most advanced humanoid robot, Ameca, draws a cat, In a world-first, an undeclared type of ice loss in the Arctic has been measured, Scientists discover a 100-year-old math error, changing how humans see color. It is one of Europe's largest hilltop fortifications and one of the World's Greatest Fortresses. Fun fact: The city of Amsterdam used to have multiple (22, to be exact) bastions along its boundary walls in the 17th century. Fort Marshall. The bastions of this fort were designed so that they could cover multiple angles of the panorama and keep all the enemy vessels in clear sight. From Italy to India, they make for a great bucket list of urban exploration, and off-beat tourism. From 1967 on, efforts have been made, with success . By the advent of WW1, static fortifications had become largely redundant, and, in most cases, a move towards demilitarized zones became more popular. Lasers? Contents 1 Canada 2 Croatia 3 Cuba 4 Cyprus 5 Czech Republic 6 Denmark 7 Finland 8 France 9 India 10 Italy 11 Ireland 12 Japan 13 Lithuania 14 Germany 15 Malaysia 16 Malta 17 Netherlands 17.1 Groningen 17.2 Friesland 17.3 Drenthe 17.4 17.5 17.6 Noord-Holland 17.8 17.9 Zeeland 17.10 Noord-Brabant 17.11 Limburg This is a list of star forts . These forts where the next-generation after medieval castles fell, inable to keep up with developing mechanics. Dreamt up in the 15th century to withstand onslaught of a little something called cannonballs, today these hypnotic fortresses appeal to our contemporary imaginations like crossover creations of fantasy genres Star Wars, but make it Medieval Times. Oh no, of course not. Mankind learned early on in our history that to protect a piece of land, you needed to fortify it. Last, but by no means least, on our list of the World's Greatest Fortresses is a relatively very modern one. The town where its located boasted strategic importance as it crossed borders with important areas.