Oblique caponier Fortress, Military fortification in Kyiv, Ukraine
The Oblique Caponier is a semi-underground fortification made of stone and brick in Kyiv, fitted with gun ports and loopholes along its angled walls. It sits on Cherepanova Hill as part of the New Pechersk Fortress system, where it was positioned to fire sideways along the main ramparts.
The structure was built in 1844 as part of the Hospital fortification complex, one section of a larger defensive ring around Kyiv. By the 1860s it had been repurposed as a political prison, a shift that marked a sharp change from its original military role.
The name comes from French military engineering and refers to the angled firing lines along the flanks of a fortification. Visitors walking through the passages can still see the original gun ports cut into the thick walls, which gives a clear sense of how soldiers once used this space.
The site on Hospitalna Street is open daily and offers guided tours through the semi-underground passages. The ground is uneven in places and some stairs lead down into the lower sections, so sturdy footwear is a good idea before entering.
Although the structure is known today as a fortress, it spent a significant part of its history functioning as a political prison rather than a defensive post. The underground tunnels that once allowed soldiers to move between artillery positions unseen are still accessible to visitors today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
