Saturday 16 June 2012

KRAKOW - OLD TOWN BARBICAN

The gothic style krakow barbican is a fortified external castle that used to be linked with the main Florian's gate and city walls in medieval times.

01 Barbican www architectureofeurope blogspot

This partly round outbuilding was important part of Krakow fortification as the invaders needed to enter this tricky building to get acces to the city.

02 Barbican www architectureofeurope blogspot

It was developed as a feature strengthening the main entrance by directing the enemy through the narrow passages - which made the invaders an easy target for the defeners. It was also called a death trap.

03 Barbican www architectureofeurope blogspot

The building was built in 1498 and is one of three such fortified outposts still surviving in Europe.

05 Barbican www architectureofeurope blogspot

The edifice has a cylindrical brick structurewith surrounding moat with inner courtyard and seven turrets(small towers) with pointed roofs.

06 Barbican www architectureofeurope blogspot

Its masonary brick wall are 3m thick and hold 130 embrasures(openings in crenelations - an arrow slit/loophole/arrow loop)

07 Barbican www architectureofeurope blogspot

Krakow barbican is concidered to be the masterpiece of medieval military engineering

08 Barbican www architectureofeurope blogspot

09 Barbican www architectureofeurope blogspot

10 Barbican www architectureofeurope blogspot


11 Barbican www architectureofeurope blogspot

13 Barbican www architectureofeurope blogspot


8 comments:

  1. Merci de partager avec nous l'ensemble de magnifique reportage photographique...
    Je suis très admirative de ces bâtiments...
    Gros bisous.

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  2. Había olvidado la expendida fortaleza de Cracovia, una maravilla de arquitectura.
    Un saludo

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  3. This structure is amazing and how wonderful that it has been preserved/restored so beautifully. The curves and overhangs (?) have exquisite detail. I love seeing this architecture in the midst of the city. You mentioned that this is one of three. Can you tell us where the other two are located? Is one in Romania?

    Wonderful, informative post with great photos!

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. As far as I know the other best preserved barbicans are in

    Carcassonne :
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Carcassonne_castle%27s_semi-circular_barbican.jpg

    and

    Goerlitz - Kaisertrutz barbican :
    http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fde.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FKaisertrutz&anno=2

    http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fde.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FKaisertrutz&anno=2

    ReplyDelete
  6. DO you guys know of any others???
    Please share your opinions

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  7. Piękny jest nasz Kraków. Świetne zdjęcia.
    Pozdrawiamy.

    ReplyDelete