Szaniec Mewi in Gdańsk, Military fortress in Gdańsk, Poland.
Szaniec Mewi is a fortress in Gdańsk designed with a pentagonal layout featuring a water-filled moat and multiple artillery positions. The central building follows a cross-shaped pattern and includes a brick reduit and powder storage facility.
The fortress was constructed between 1844 and 1846 by Prussian authorities to defend the mouth of the Vistula River. Its design marked an early application of experimental concrete in military architecture, setting it apart from earlier Napoleonic fortifications.
The name references the seagulls that inhabit the area, reflecting how locals understood this fortification within the broader landscape. Today the structure sits as a tangible reminder of how military needs shaped the city's waterfront identity.
The fort is located near Westerplatte Peninsula within the Port of Gdańsk and can be accessed from nearby areas. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear as the terrain is uneven and water features may restrict access to certain sections.
In September 1939 the fortress served as a launching point for attacks on Westerplatte and was later converted into a temporary prison for captured Polish soldiers. This dual role made it a site of both military strategy and human suffering during the war's opening days.
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