Modlin Fortress: A Napoleonic Stronghold Day Trip from Warsaw

Modlin Fortress stands at the confluence of the Vistula, Narew and Wkra rivers in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, northwest of Warsaw. The site’s defensive value was recognised earlier by the Swedish king Charles X Gustav, who founded a four-bastion fortified camp known as Bugskansen here that survived until 1660.

Napoleon took the initial decision to build a fortress at Modlin in December 1806. The inner ring of today’s citadel was designed by the head of Napoleonic engineering, Gen. François de Chasseloup-Laubat, with Col. Jan Mallet in 1809 - an earth-and-timber fort of five bastions open towards the river. After Napoleon’s defeat the fortress capitulated to the Russians on 1 December 1813.

Under Russian rule Modlin was renamed Nowogieorgiewsk in 1834, a name that remained official until 1915. Construction of the 2,250-metre barracks complex began in 1832 and finished in 1864. From 1883 a first ring of eight brick-and-earth forts rose 2-6 km from the core, 30 km in total, and between 1912 and 1914 a second ring of ten concrete forts with armoured steel cupolas was built 5-10 km out.

In the First World War the fortress capitulated to the Germans on 20 August 1915 after ten days of fighting, and stayed in German hands until November 1918; the Polish Army took over in December 1918, after 87 years. In September 1939 the garrison fought on alone for 18 days from 11 September before capitulating, mainly for lack of ammunition, medicine and food; more than 2,000 Polish soldiers died in the defence. The fortress was liberated on 18 January 1945.

Visiting is easy to organise. The outer perimeter can be explored on your own free of charge, with information boards at three points and a tourist information point at ul. Baśki Murmańskiej 164. Front Modlin (ul. gen. Bema 500), with its underground countermine passages, is open daily 11:00-16:00 from June to September and additionally on weekends from April to October, 11:00-17:00; tickets cost 15 zł (10 zł reduced). The Museum of the September Campaign and Modlin Fortress (Baśki Murmańskiej 156) is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00-17:00, tickets 15 zł. The Viewing Tower and the Powder Magazine (ul. gen. Bema 200) open Wednesday-Thursday 12:00-16:00 and Friday-Sunday 12:00-18:00; tickets are 17-19 zł (15 zł reduced) per object. Enquiries: +48 696 081 633, info@twierdzamodlin.pl.