Spandau Citadel

Built from 1559–94 atop a medieval fort on an island near the meeting of the Havel and the Spree, it was designed to protect the town of Spandau, which is now part of Berlin.

By 1560, Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg engaged Christoph Römer to build an Italian style fortress, incorporating the older castle, Palas, and Julius Tower.

It was retaken by Prussian and Russian forces in 1813, but the ramparts were heavily damaged during the battle and required extensive restoration.

Although several hundred years old, the Citadel's tracé à l'italienne design made the structure difficult to storm.

After negotiations, the citadel's commander surrendered to the Lieutenant-General Perkhorovitch's 47th Army just after 15:00 on 1 May 1945, saving many lives and leaving the Renaissance bastion fort intact.

The Citadel now houses a museum, the Zitadelle; among the exhibitions is a collection of sculptures that have been removed from public display in Berlin over previous centuries, including statues of Friedrich Wilhelm III and Queen Luise, Nazi art, and the head of a 19-metre statue of Lenin.

Gravestones dating back to 1244 bear witness to Jewish life as an important trade town, and the function of the citadel as a refuge.