Spandau Citadel

The citadel was built between 1559 and 1594 on an island where the Spree meets the Havel, a square with four arrowhead bastions at the corners, a design imported from Italy and among the best-preserved examples of the type in Europe. Inside stands the Juliusturm, a round keep of about 1200, the oldest secular building in Berlin; between 1874 and 1919 the imperial war treasury in gold coin was stored in it. Bats hibernate in the casemates in large numbers, and the fortress is a protected roost. A museum of political monuments holds statues removed from Berlin's streets at various times, displayed with their histories.

What you actually see

• The bastioned square - a Renaissance fortress plan preserved almost intact.
• The Juliusturm - a keep of about 1200, Berlin's oldest secular building.
• The bat casemates - a protected hibernation roost in the vaults.
• The monument museum - removed public statues shown with their histories.

When to go

April to October; the citadel opens year-round and hosts concerts in summer. Casemates close during the bat hibernation season, roughly November to March.

Honest expectations

Casemates close for months to protect bats. The site is exposed and cold in winter. Concert evenings restrict normal access.

Nearby

Spandau old town lies east; central Berlin is further east.