Fort V of the Warsaw Fortress

Fort V “Włochy” is one of the forts of the outer ring of the Warsaw Fortress, built in the 1880s to protect the line of the Warsaw-Vienna Railway and the city’s western approaches. It features a design typical of Russian fortifications of that period: a two-rampart fort with a pentagonal layout and two fronts meeting at an angle close to 180°. The fort is surrounded by a dry moat and includes caponiers that once provided defensive coverage. Despite the passage of time, the fort has been well preserved, and recent revitalization efforts have included the restoration of historical earthworks and the reconstruction of the dry moat. A cemetery is being developed within the fort’s grounds, and the surrounding area is set to be transformed into a recreational space with sports fields and tennis courts. The fort’s barracks, which remain in excellent condition, are managed by the Foundation for the Preservation of Military Technical Heritage, which plans to establish a museum of military equipment. As part of Warsaw’s defensive system, Fort V underwent modernizations in the past, including the replacement of brick caponiers with concrete ones and the construction of a massive neck caponier, which was unfortunately demolished after 1909 during the fortress’s decommissioning. Today, Fort V “Włochy” stands as a fascinating example of military architecture that once served defensive purposes and now fulfills cultural, social, and recreational roles for the local community.