Defensionskaserne, Military barracks in Erfurt, Germany
The Defensionskaserne is a military barracks in Erfurt featuring a distinctive two-story structure that runs along the city fortifications. The facade facing the city contains numerous openings that allowed soldiers to observe and defend the surrounding area.
The building was constructed between 1828 and 1831 as Prussia modernized and strengthened Erfurt's fortification system. Between 1912 and 1913 the barracks received a neo-baroque mansard roof and underwent additional renovations.
The building exemplifies Prussian classical architecture and received a neo-baroque mansard roof addition during renovations from 1912 to 1913.
The site sits directly along the historic city walls and is easily reached on foot from the city center. The complex is currently being transformed into a creative industries campus, so it is worth checking current information about access and what areas are open to visitors.
The structure was originally designed to house around 500 soldiers and combined residential quarters with defensive functions in a single complex. This integration of military barracks and fortress makes it a rare example of Prussian military architecture where the two purposes merged into one building.
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