For years, Wrocław has successfully combined modernity with care for its historical heritage. Renovating monuments is not only a way of preserving the city’s identity, but also an opportunity to give old buildings new life. Another example of such an initiative will be the renovation of the remains of the Brickworks Bastion on the Polish Hill – one of the most fascinating relics of the city’s former fortification system.
Bricklayer’s Bastion – the making of
Located between the Academy of Fine Arts and the National Museum on Purkyniego Street, the Bricklar Bastion is one of the few remnants of Wrocław’s 16th-century fortifications. It was built in 1585 on the site of the former Bricklayers’ Gate, which was part of the medieval city ramparts. It was designed by Hans Schneider von Lindau, who was a respected architect and fortifier active in Silesia and Pomerania. The bastion was designed in the so-called New Italian system, with characteristic casemates, i.e. vaulted defence rooms placed underground. In time, the structure was expanded with a ravelin and cavalry, making it one of the most important urban fortifications.
The fate of the building in the 19th century
After the dismantling of Wrocław’s defence system in 1807, the Brickmaker Bastion (like other fortifications) was transformed into a recreational site. The military equipment was removed and some of the casemates were buried. In their place, a viewing hill was created, which in the 19th century became known as Holteia Hill in honour of Karl von Holteia, a German writer and actor. After 1945, the site was renamed Polish Hill. Parts of the walls, a portal and parts of the gun emplacement have survived to this day, and buried casemates still lie beneath the surface. Recent attempts at conservation were made in the 1970s and 1980s, but were never completed.
Brickworks Bastion in the future. Photo: Wrocław City Hall
Bricklar Bastion will get a new life
The first renovation works are planned for the Polish Hill in 2025. In April, the Board of Urban Greenery will announce a tender to carry out works on the artillery terrace, the most visible but also the most damaged part of the former bastion. The scope of works includes, among other things, the execution of damp proofing, replacement of the surface, reconstruction of three former artillery positions and installation of a rainwater drainage system. The design documentation for the next stages of renovation of the remaining parts of the fortifications is also ready. This is an important step towards preserving and opening up to the public and tourists one of the most valuable monuments of Wrocław’s military past.
The best preserved bastion in Wrocław
As Adam Żurek emphasises in his “Lexicon of Wroclaw architecture”, the relics of the Brickworks Bastion are the best preserved fragments of the city’s former bastions. Despite the passage of more than two centuries since their transformation into a park, the site still conceals potential – both educational and recreational. Thanks to the planned renovation, the historic site will regain its splendour and former character, and Wrocław citizens will gain another space for relaxation surrounded by greenery and history.
Source: Wrocław City Hall
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Metamorphosis | Renovation | Monument | History | Wrocław
