COPENHAGEN: Citadel

Kastellet (Citadel) is one of the best preserved fortresses in Northern Europe. Shaped as a five-pointed star with bastions (projections from a wall that enable defensive fire in multiple directions) at its corners, the citadel was part of a ring of bastioned ramparts that used to encircle Copenhagen.

The King’s Gate to the Citadel.

The Rows, a barracks at the Citadel that still supports military functions.

A moat circle around the fortress.

A closer look at the moat and a segment of the wall.

Moat guardians in training.

To us, the Citadel was a big park with great trails for hiking.

The Citadel has its own windmill, critical to supplies of flour and oats in a siege. Sixteen windmills used to stand on the ramparts of the city; this one is the last still working.

Directly across the moat on a southeast corner is St. Alban’s, consecrated in 1887, a traditional English Anglican church with a spire and stained glass windows. And picnickers.