#historical-fortifications

[ follow ]
History
fromOpen Culture
5 days ago

How Everything in a Medieval Castle Worked, from Its Moats to Its Dungeons

Medieval castles were complex structures designed for defense, featuring elements like barbicans, moats, and parapets.
Europe news
fromwww.dw.com
5 days ago

UNESCO World Heritage sites facing the heat

World Heritage sites are increasingly threatened by climate change, with 80% facing stress from rising temperatures and extreme weather events.
fromThe Art Newspaper - International art news and events
4 days ago

Unesco grants enhanced protection to 39 Lebanese heritage sites as war escalates

The designation prohibits the sites from being targeted or used for military purposes, with violations potentially constituting serious breaches of the 1954 Hague Convention and grounds for criminal responsibility.
Arts
Russo-Ukrainian War
fromwww.dw.com
1 week ago

Russian attack on World Heritage sites in Lviv causes uproar

Russia launched nearly 1,000 drones and 34 missiles in the largest strike against Ukraine, causing significant damage and casualties in Lviv.
London
fromianVisits
1 week ago

IWM exhibition shows how Britain disguised its power stations during WWII

The exhibition showcases WWII-era art, highlighting camouflage techniques and human stories from wartime London through paintings, posters, and documents.
#heritage-preservation
fromArchDaily
1 month ago
World news

World Monuments Fund Backs 21 Locally Led Heritage Projects Addressing Climate Risks and Indigenous Knowledge Loss

fromArchDaily
1 month ago
World news

World Monuments Fund Backs 21 Locally Led Heritage Projects Addressing Climate Risks and Indigenous Knowledge Loss

fromCN Traveller
1 week ago

7 wonders of Greece for 2026

The Rio-Antirrio Bridge, with its triangular sections resembling giant sails, is the world's longest multi-span cable-stayed bridge, spanning 2,880 meters across the Rion Strait. Completed in 2004, it transformed travel between the Peloponnese and mainland Greece, reducing ferry crossing times significantly. The views from the bridge are breathtaking, offering glimpses of the indigo waters and majestic mountain ranges.
Europe news
History
fromBig Think
1 week ago

Militarized snowflakes: The accidental beauty of Renaissance star forts

Star forts exemplify the intersection of military engineering and geometry, showcasing beauty born from the necessity of defense against artillery.
London politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

Stonehenge tunnel plan officially scrapped after years of protests

The UK Department for Transport has officially cancelled a controversial tunnel project under Stonehenge after spending £179.2 million on planning, citing exceptional circumstances and revoking the development consent order.
fromArtnet News
2 weeks ago

The Cultural Heritage Sites Damaged by the U.S.-Israel War on Iran

After the historical Iranian city of Isfahan was targeted by several major strikes, its governor Mehdi Jamalinejad claimed that serious damage had been inflicted even after blue shields were put on the roofs of culturally important buildings. This is an internationally recognized signal under the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
Arts
#roman-archaeology
History
fromMedievalists.net
1 week ago

Scientists Confirm Remains of Medieval Emperor Otto the Great - Medievalists.net

Emperor Otto the Great's identity has been confirmed through scientific research, including DNA analysis, after centuries of uncertainty.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
3 weeks ago

Lost nuclear bunker discovered beneath medieval castle

A Cold War-era nuclear defense bunker built for Royal Observer Corps volunteers was discovered during an archaeological dig at Scarborough Castle in North Yorkshire.
World politics
fromArchDaily
4 weeks ago

Cultural Heritage Sites in the Middle East Damaged as War Strikes Historic Urban Areas

US-Israeli military attacks on Iran in February 2026 initiated a new Middle East conflict zone, joining multiple global armed conflicts causing widespread destruction of cultural and infrastructure assets.
fromTravel + Leisure
3 weeks ago

These Are the 25 Top Cultural Destinations in the World for 2026, According to Tripadvisor

Singapore has a special way of blending old traditions with modern life, especially evident in its historic neighborhoods like Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam. There, colorful shophouses, temples, and mosques sit alongside cafes and boutiques, while long-standing food and craft traditions remain part of daily life.
Berlin
Arts
fromArtnet News
2 weeks ago

Archaeologists Identify Lost Medieval Village in Polish Forest | Artnet News

Researchers in Poland have located Stolzenberg, a lost medieval village in Pomerania, using metal detection and geophysical surveys that revealed 1,500 surface anomalies including coins and building remnants.
#medieval-architecture
fromianVisits
1 month ago

The church with anti-aircraft guns: Kilburn's unusual naval relics removed

The Grade II listed building is on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register and is currently recorded as being in poor condition. The national Marine Society and Sea Cadets (MSSC), which held the lease, has confirmed that it can no longer meet the building's repair obligations and will surrender the lease so that restoration can be carried out by new occupants.
London music
History
fromenglish.elpais.com
1 week ago

Is d'Artagnan lying beneath a church in Maastricht? DNA will determine if remains found are those of the famous musketeer

A skeleton found in Maastricht may belong to Count d'Artagnan, with DNA analysis underway to confirm its identity.
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

Dismay as ancient heritage sites across Iran damaged in US-Israel bombing

The most serious confirmed damage to date has been to Tehran's Golestan palace, dating back to the 14th century, and the 17th-century Chehel Sotoon palace in Isfahan. Judging from videos and public statements, neither historic building was hit by a missile directly but the shock wave from nearby blasts and possibly some missile debris, shattered glass and brought down tiles and masonry.
World news
#archaeology
LA real estate
fromLos Angeles Times
19 years ago

In Defense of the Persian Palace

Persian Palace architecture, characterized by exaggerated moldings, excessive cornices, and disregarded proportions, has become widely reviled in Los Angeles and is now banned in Beverly Hills due to concerns about neighborhood degradation.
Travel
fromTravel + Leisure
1 month ago

This Is the Most Beautiful Capital City in Europe, According to Travelers-and No, It's Not Paris or Rome

Luxembourg City ranks as Europe's most beautiful capital based on analysis of 3 million Tripadvisor reviews mentioning beauty-related keywords, followed by Bratislava and Monaco.
Science
fromOpen Culture
1 month ago

How Medieval Cathedrals Were Built Without Science, or Even Mathematics

Medieval cathedral builders engineered complex structures like Sainte-Chapelle without mathematics or formal science, using practical techniques and empirical methods instead.
History
fromMedievalists.net
3 weeks ago

Two Medieval Men Found Buried in Prehistoric Site - Medievalists.net

Medieval men were buried in the Menga dolmen, a Neolithic monument in Spain, over 4,000 years after its construction, demonstrating the site's enduring symbolic importance across millennia.
London politics
fromwww.standard.co.uk
1 month ago

Tower of London 'at-risk of serious harm' under draft plan for Square Mile

Historic England warns that the City of London Corporation's City Plan 2040 poses serious risks to the Tower of London's preservation due to excessive development scale and location.
Miscellaneous
fromianVisits
1 month ago

Tickets Alert: Climb up inside the Old Royal Naval College domes

Dome Tours at the Old Royal Naval College resume in April, allowing small groups to climb inside domes, view Wren's structure and enjoy 360° views.
History
fromianVisits
3 weeks ago

Looted from a royal palace: The medieval jug now on display in London

A medieval English bronze jug looted from Ghana's Asante kingdom reveals how European luxury goods became valued ceremonial objects through trans-continental trade networks before colonial appropriation.
History
fromMedievalists.net
1 month ago

Medieval Manuscripts to Be Displayed at EXPO Chicago 2026 - Medievalists.net

Medieval illuminated manuscripts from the 15th-16th centuries will be featured at EXPO Chicago 2026, showcasing how collectors and audiences continue to value medieval book art today.
fromTravel + Leisure
1 month ago

This Tiny European Country Has A Medieval City, Dazzling Waterfalls, and Free Public Transit-Here's How to Plan a Trip

Travelers often overlook tiny European countries, but, as I discovered on a recent trip to Luxembourg-Europe's seventh-smallest nation, with a population of just 699,000-there's much to discover in these hidden gems. Last summer, I visited my aunt, who has lived in Europe for over 20 years, with stints in Paris, Vienna, Zug, Switzerland, and now, Luxembourg. We spent three days touring the historic city nestled between Belgium, Germany, and France. It's built on a rocky plateau overlooking deep gorges, a sweeping canyon, and surrounding countryside.
Miscellaneous
Renovation
fromArchDaily
1 month ago

Material Mediation and Architectural Heritage

Updating historic buildings requires balancing modern performance, regulatory demands, and energy goals while preserving material, cultural, and symbolic continuity.
New York City
fromUntapped New York
1 year ago

New Video Goes Inside NYC's Unfinished Civil War-Era Fort - Untapped New York

Fort Totten's incomplete Civil War-era Water Battery remains a truncated, roofless stone structure and is being integrated into Fort Totten Park and a waterfront greenway.
History
fromMedievalists.net
1 month ago

New Medieval Books: Castles and Strongholds of Northumberland - Medievalists.net

Northumberland contains more castles, towers, peles, bastles and barmkins than any other British county, serving as private residences and fortifications for nobility and landowners.
fromCN Traveller
1 month ago

7 wonders of Europe for 2026

Europe has never been short on spectacle. Yet beyond the headline cities and endlessly recycled itineraries lies a quieter, deeper continent; one that's best encountered through patience and a willingness to detour from the obvious itinerary. Our 7 wonders of Europe for 2026 in Europe are not places that beg for attention. Instead, they reward those prepared to explore more than a few miles from the nearest airport and linger a little longer than planned.
Travel
France news
fromThe Local France
2 months ago

Germany returns to France fragments of the Bayeux Tapestry taken in 1941

Two unembroidered fragments removed from the Bayeux Tapestry in 1941 by a Nazi scientist were returned to France by Schleswig-Holstein.
Europe politics
fromenglish.elpais.com
1 month ago

Europe is making progress in designing its own new security architecture

Major European countries are initiating new defense cooperation frameworks, including talks on extending France's nuclear umbrella and deepening EU–UK security cooperation.
fromThe Good Life France
2 months ago

Renovating a property in France - heritage status and protected zones - The Good Life France

In the UK and the US, it is often crystal clear when your new home is classified as a heritage home or period property, but in France it can be less obvious. You could be breaking the rules simply by installing new windows. So how can you check that your big plans aren't going to upset anyone - or worse, break the law?
Real estate
fromYanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
2 months ago

This 3D-Printed Roof Is Saving 2,000-Year-Old Roman Tombs - Yanko Design

What makes this canopy special isn't just that it uses 3D printing technology, though that's certainly impressive. It's the way the designers thought about the entire system. Rather than simply throwing a roof over the tombs and calling it a day, they created what's essentially a climate-control system disguised as architecture. The canopy features a double-layer envelope that does way more than keep rain off ancient stone. Built into this roof are ventilation and air extraction components that actively regulate temperature and humidity.
Design
UK news
fromianVisits
2 months ago

Lost stretch of London's Roman Wall could reappear in the pavement outside Guildhall

Aldermanbury will be pedestrianised with paving highlighting a lost section of London's Roman Wall, adding planting, seating, and retaining emergency vehicle access.
#heritage
fromOpen Culture
1 month ago

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: From the Walls of Babylon to the Sewers of Rome

Seven were the strings of the lyre (unless there happened to be eight or nine), seven were the gates of Thebes, and seven were the "wandering stars" in the night sky (if you count the sun and moon). The identity of the wonders was less important than the length of their list, and indeed, additions and changes were proposed since the beginning.
History
fromwww.bbc.com
2 months ago

Treasures found on HS2 route stored in secret warehouse

Treasures unearthed by hundreds of archaeologists so far during work on the controversial planned HS2 train line have been shown exclusively to the BBC. The 450,000 objects, which are being held in a secret warehouse, include a possible Roman gladiator's tag, a hand axe that may be more than 40,000 years old and 19th Century gold dentures. It is an "unprecedented" amount and array of items, which will yield new insights into Britain's past, says the Centre for British Archaeology.
London
World politics
fromwww.aljazeera.com
2 months ago

Wary of Israeli appropriation, Palestine lists 14 sites with UNESCO

The Palestinian Authority submitted 14 Gaza and West Bank sites to UNESCO's tentative World Heritage list to protect Palestinian cultural heritage from appropriation and attacks.
Miscellaneous
fromArchitectural Digest
9 years ago

The 11 Most Beautiful Gothic Cathedrals Around the World

Gothic cathedrals, built 12th–16th centuries, prioritize height and light using pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses to create taller, stronger stone structures.
Travel
fromwww.npr.org
2 months ago

Greetings from Acre, Israel, where an old fortress recalls the time of the Crusades

Acre (Akko) is an ancient, multicultural coastal city with layered history and tourism curtailed by nearby conflict, hoping for visitors to return.
Renovation
fromArchDaily
1 month ago

How to Modernize a Grand Hotel Without Erasing Its Memory: Lessons from Brenners

Refurbishment can extend material life and preserve architectural identity while reducing environmental impact when original materials are durable and project conditions allow.
History
fromAnimals Around The Globe
1 month ago

11 Historic Bridges in The World That Are Engineering Masterpieces

Bridges represent human ambition and ingenuity, solving impossible engineering challenges across millennia using available knowledge and materials of their time.
Travel
fromCN Traveller
2 months ago

7 wonders of the UK for 2026

The UK contains lesser-known, remarkable natural and historic sites that reward visitors who explore beyond popular destinations.
Miscellaneous
fromConde Nast Traveler
1 month ago

7 Wonders of Europe You Should Visit in 2026, According to Our UK Editors

Europe's lesser-known destinations reward patient travelers who detour from popular routes, offering quiet cultural, natural, and historical experiences.
History
fromMedievalists.net
1 month ago

Dreaming of Owning a Medieval Artefact? Here's Your Chance - Medievalists.net

TimeLine Auctions' March 3 online sale features hundreds of medieval historical objects including a 13th-century Limoges cross, 1224 Chinese armor, Viking silver mount, and Anglo-Saxon brooch.
fromArchDaily
1 month ago

Shaping Architectural Continuity: 25 Revitalization Projects Across Historic, Industrial, and Natural Sites

Heritage sites constitute complex spatial archives in which architecture, history, and collective memory converge. They encompass a wide spectrum of contexts-from archaeological remains, ancient and historic townscapes, UNESCO-listed landscapes, to early modern civic structures and industrial infrastructures. Yet these environments confront challenges: climate change, urban transformation, disaster, shifting social needs, and the gradual erosion of material fabric. Revitalization and restoration projects respond to these conditions by positioning architectural and spatial practice as an active mediator between preservation and the contemporary topologies.
Renovation
Arts
fromHyperallergic
2 months ago

A Millennia-Long Fascination With Armor

The Worcester Art Museum's reopened armor galleries present global armor traditions, challenging medieval European romanticism and showcasing one of the nation's largest arms-and-armor collections.
Travel
fromBusiness Insider
2 months ago

As a travel planner, I rarely recommend Paris or Rome. Instead, I swear by these 5 European gems.

Five European destinations—including Liverpool, Cinque Terre, and Porto—offer musical heritage, coastal scenery, historic charm, and distinctive culinary experiences every traveler should experience.
Arts
fromHyperallergic
1 month ago

Did the British Museum Remove Palestine From Its Displays?

The British Museum amended some Middle East gallery labels to use ancient regional terms like 'Canaan' while continuing to use 'Palestine' in many displays.
History
fromMedievalists.net
2 months ago

From Holy War to Heritage: Places to Visit if You Want to Understand the Baltic Crusades - Medievalists.net

Baltic Crusades transformed the region through conquest, colonization and Christianization between the 12th and 15th centuries, leaving castles, churches and towns across the Baltic coast.
History
fromMedievalists.net
2 months ago

Military Education in Early Medieval Europe: Learning from Books - Medievalists.net

Early medieval military leaders learned warfare from books—Roman manuals, handbooks, and case studies—informing campaigns, sieges, and logistical planning.
fromwww.thehistoryblog.com
1 month ago

Rare Mithraic altars found in Scotland go on display for the first time

Two exceptionally rare and beautifully carved Mithraic altars found in Inveresk, East Lothian, Scotland, are going on display for the first time. They are not just the only Roman altars ever found in Scotland, but are among the finest examples of Roman sculpture in Roman Britain. They are also uniquely early in date, having been made in 140s A.D. during Antoninus Pius' reoccupation of southern Scotland, whereas most other archaeological materials related to the worship of Mithras in Britannia date to the 3rd century.
History
fromMedievalists.net
2 months ago

"775 - Westphalia": Exhibition Explores the Origins of Charlemagne's Imperial Palace - Medievalists.net

Charlemagne established a fortified royal base at the Lippe River in 775, baptized many Saxons, and initially named it Karlsburg before the name vanished.
History
fromMedievalists.net
2 months ago

When were the Middle Ages? - Medievalists.net

The Middle Ages lack a single, natural start or end; appropriate boundaries depend on whether political, religious, economic, or cultural changes are prioritized.
History
fromwww.thehistoryblog.com
1 month ago

Terracotta head found at Magna Roman Fort

A rare terracotta female head, likely a locally made copy of an earlier imported model, was discovered at Magna Roman Fort and is now displayed.
History
fromOpen Culture
1 month ago

Ten Lost Roman Wonders: The World's Longest Tunnel, Tallest Dam, Widest-Spanning Bridge & More

Many major Roman constructions survive only as ruins or are entirely lost, with once-grand structures like Trajan's Bridge and Nero's Subiaco Dams no longer intact.
fromMail Online
1 month ago

The bone that proves Hannibal really DID cross the Alps with elephants

While the bone was worn and poorly preserved, archaeologists managed to identify its origin by comparing it with modern elephant and mammoth bones. Despite there not being enough DNA to confirm the exact species, the researchers were able to carbon date a tiny sample of the bone. This places the elephant's death between the late fourth and early third centuries BC - right in the middle of the Second Punic War.
History
History
fromMedievalists.net
2 months ago

Medieval hall discovered in Northern England - Medievalists.net

Excavations at Sparrow Croft near Skipsea Castle reveal rare Anglo-Saxon high-status structures: a malthouse, timber tower foundation and large hall predating 1066.
fromMedievalists.net
2 months ago

Talking Templars: Assassins versus Templars - Medievalists.net

The Assassins and the Knights Templar have become two of the most iconic groups of fighters from the period of the Crusades. In recent times, they have been popularised through the video game and movie franchise, Assassin's Creed. But who were they really and how did they interact in the Holy Land? It's an intriguing story that Dr Steve Tibble and Tony McMahon investigate in the first episode of their new podcast series, Talking Templars.
History
History
fromwww.thehistoryblog.com
2 months ago

First Roman marching camps discovered in Saxony-Anhalt

Four Roman marching camps found in Saxony-Anhalt prove Roman legions reached the Elbe in the 3rd century, the northeasternmost camps in Germania.
[ Load more ]