Festung Klein-Durren, Military fortress in Obwalden, Switzerland.
Festung Klein-Durren is a rock-carved military installation in Obwalden built at roughly 1200 meters elevation with chambers for artillery and bunker spaces. The structure includes multiple levels embedded deep within the mountain, containing eight separate casemates designed to hold artillery pieces.
The installation was built in 1942 and served as a strategic defense point during World War II to secure the mountain pass. After the war it remained in operation, but was permanently decommissioned and removed from military service in 1998.
The name refers to its location on a smaller mountain ridge, and it was designed as a concealed defense line carved into the rock face. Visitors can still see how this approach made the installation blend into the natural landscape rather than dominating it visibly.
Access to the fortress was originally possible via the Pilatus Railway from Alpnachstad, but was later supplemented by a military cable car system built in the 1950s. Visitors today should expect the climb to be challenging due to the elevation and steep terrain, requiring good hiking boots and plenty of time.
The cannons inside the fortress were designed to reach impressive distances and could target locations from Burgenstock to Buochs, a range that demonstrated strategic control over a large valley. This firepower was achieved through specialized 12-centimeter cannons and 10.5-centimeter guns, all built into the mountainside.
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