Solid boyen

Map of Feste Boyen

The fortress Boyen was built as a Prussian ring fortress in Lötzen (Polish: Giżycko ) between 1847 and 1855. It lies between the Kissainsee, the southernmost part of the Mauersee and the Löwentinsee .

Fortress

architecture

Portal of the festivals

Model of the plant

View from the wall onto a section of the " Carnot Wall "

The 100 hectare complex formed a main link in the Prussian fortifications that were supposed to secure the eastern borders of East Prussia against Russia. It lies on a strategically important isthmus. Prussia's Minister of War Hermann von Boyen convinced King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. To build one of the most imposing fortresses in Masuria there. Between 1847 and 1855 the bastions and powder gates, moats , barracks and all other necessary buildings were built. The fortress has the shape of a seven-pointed star, which was underlined by the mighty earthworks, walls and moats. Four gates lead into the fortress. The main entrance is the double Lötzener Tor with a drawbridge in front of the inner gate, next to it there is the Rastenburger Tor and the Pulvertor. The water gate was closed when the railway line was built. The fortress was briefly besieged by the Russian army in 1914, but not captured.

The plant today

Since 1993, the "Boyen Festival Lovers' Club (Polish Club Miłośnikow Twierdzy Boyen)" has been looking after the facility. The association ensures that the property is renewed and made available to tourists for viewing. On the grounds of the fortress there was a youth hostel with 200 beds, a historical museum and a restaurant . Numerous events take place there over the course of the year. The youth hostel has now been converted into an exhibition gallery.

Outside the walls, an open-air theater was built in the fortress moat .

Boyen Manor

On August 12, 1863 was Gutsbezirk Boyen founded. He was on 29 March 1874 in the newly established District Will cash ( polish Wilkasy integrated), of the county Lötzen in Administrative district Gumbinnen (1905 and 1945 was: administrative district Allenstein ) in the Prussian province of East Prussia belonged.

In 1867, a total of 577 inhabitants were registered in the manor district of Feste Boyen. Their number rose to 688 by 1885 and amounted to 1,021 in 1905. On December 1, 1910 there were 1,004 inhabitants.

On October 17, 1928, the manor district of Fest Boyen gave up its independence and was incorporated into the municipality of Lötzen ( Polish Giżycko ). It stayed that way in Polish times.