Bender Fortress, Military fortress in Bender, Moldova
Bender Fortress is a stone stronghold on the right bank of the Dniester River with ten bastions and eleven towers that create a complex defensive layout. The bastions are positioned so that defenders could provide mutual support, making it difficult for attackers to breach any single point.
The original wooden fort was transformed into a stone structure in 1538 when Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent ordered architect Sinan to redesign it. The fortress subsequently passed through various periods of rule and witnessed multiple conflicts that shaped its final appearance.
The fortress houses a museum displaying artifacts discovered over centuries, showing how different peoples have lived and worked here. These objects tell the story of how the place has been occupied and used by various communities.
The fortress can be visited year-round with access to observation platforms, exhibition halls, and displays about military history. Wear comfortable shoes as you will climb stairs and walk across the ramparts to explore different areas of the complex.
The Bendery Constitution was adopted here in 1710, an early governance document that established foundational principles ahead of similar developments elsewhere. This agreement came decades before comparable constitutional frameworks appeared in other parts of Europe.
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