Vesting Bourtange Audio Guide
Explore Vesting Bourtange with Stanza's GPS-triggered offline audio guide.
About the Tour
Bourtange Fortress was constructed under the orders of William the Silent, completed in 1593. This historic star-shaped fortification now serves as a popular tourist attraction.
What you will hear
Arrival at the Star Fortress
Start with an aerial perspective to appreciate the perfect pentagonal geometry before crossing the historic drawbridge into the 18th century.
The Main Drawbridge
Crossing this vibrant red bridge marks your entry into a strictly regulated military world designed in the 16th century to house hundreds of soldiers.
The Marktplein: Heart of the Garrison
The central pentagonal square where the daily life of 700 soldiers and their families unfolded beneath the historic linden trees.
The Market Square
This cobblestone square serves as the central hub of the fortress, surrounded by fourteen historic linden trees that define its unique pentagonal shape.
Soldiers' Quarters
These reconstructed brick buildings, featuring distinctive 18th-century gables, once provided housing for the families living within the fortress’s line of fire.
The Wooden Horse and Military Discipline
A stark reminder of the harsh military discipline enforced within these walls during the fortress's active years.
The Wooden Horse
This replica of a traditional punishment device illustrates the strict and often painful military discipline required to maintain order in a border fort.
Faith and Diversity: Church and Synagogue
Explore the religious life of the fortress, from the Garrison Church to the rare preserved rural synagogue.
The Garrison Church
The white facade of this simple church marks the spiritual center of the fortress, where the Protestant garrison gathered for centuries.
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