A wet moat surrounds us. Kastrup Fort stands as a testament to Copenhagen’s coastal defenses. This fort has a captivating story. It began as Kastrup Battery. Later, it became known as Kastrup Fort.
Built between 1886 and 1887, Kastrup Fort was vital. It secured Copenhagen’s southern entrance. The Kongedybet and Hollænderdybet waters were key. These waters lie between Saltholm island and Middelgrund Fort.
Imagine this open work. Two large traverses stand firm. Inside, casemates stored ammunition. Walls of 1.5 meters of concrete protected it all. About 30 meters of soil covered the concrete.
Ammunition moved to the cannons on small wagons. Four long tunnels facilitated this. Two tunnels came from each magazine.
The crew lived in tents. There were no living quarters. The wet moat surrounding Kastrup Fort is 30-50 meters wide. It is about 3 meters deep. Caponiers were placed in the moat. They held machine guns for close defense.
Kastrup Fort’s main armament included 4 of 30.5 cm cannons. Also, there were 3 of 15 cm cannons. The fort had machine guns too. These were for close-range defense.
During World War I, the armament expanded. Two 75 mm guns were added. Also, two 47 mm balloon cannons joined. More machine guns defended against aircraft. The fort even had floodlights. One was 90 cm and another 150 cm.
Kastrup Fort closed in 1922. In 1925, the City of Copenhagen took over. During the German occupation from 1940-1945, Germans used the fort. After the war, it became a refugee camp.
Today, the City of Copenhagen maintains Kastrup Fort. It serves as a park. Public access is allowed to the fort’s exterior. The area is about 4 hectares. The moat is 2-3 meters deep.
In 1933, Kastrup Fort opened as a public park. It offered refreshments and entertainment. In 1947, the park reopened after the war. The area was protected in 1969.
In the park’s center, Restaurant Kastrup Fortet welcomes visitors. Once a vital defense, Kastrup Fort now offers leisure. It shows a transformation from military to public space. The Kastrup Fort stands as a reminder of history. It shows resilience.