The Leer Place fortress: East Frisia's forgotten jewel of history

The Leer Place fortress: East Frisia's forgotten jewel of history

Leer, Deutschland - The Leer Place fortress, once the largest bulwark in East Frisia, was a strategic masterpiece that goes back to the 15th century. This impressive facility, which stretched into the EMS near the city near the city, was not only a military continued, but also an important surveillance location for shipping. Today only hills are visible that testify to the former size.

The fortress was originally built by Hamburgers as a “log house” to combat piracy in the Region. Under Count Enno II, she experienced a comprehensive expansion between 1528 and 1540 and became the strongest fortress in East Frisia. Her strategic situation made her an indispensable part of the defense against maritime threats and to control important traffic routes. In 1611 a Dutch garrison was stationed, which underlined the military importance of the fortress.

The decay of a once powerful fortress

But the gloss of the fortress empty -time faded over time. After the death of Count Enno III. In 1625 the castle began to decay. In 1712 the dilapidated castle was demolished, and the bricks were used in the construction of an orphanage in Esens. The military use finally ended in 1749. The latest archaeological excavations as part of the Interreg IVA project "Grenzland Fortressland" have brought new knowledge about the structure and history of the fortress, including an impressive bastion body from Klei, which was once surrounded by a wall.