THE FORTIFICATIONS OF STRASBOURG.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 240, 27 October 1870, Page 2

THE FORTIFICATIONS OF STRASBOURG.

Strasbourg, lit August. I eng-aged to giro a short account of the fortifications of Strasbourg—a promise which I now proceed to fulfill. If your readers have a plan, such as that in Hachette's Atlas, they will be the better able f o follow me.

The town itself is nearly circular, and the main part is entirely surrounded by water*; the river 111 flows round one side, and leaving it just within the fortifications at one end, returns to it just within them ; at the other is a canal, called " Dcs Faix Bempnrts," which is almost as large a* the river, and both about twice the width of an ordinary canal, the banks, however, being built up in quays to some height. The fortifications thus cross the river at two points only, by massive drawbridges, and include, besides the town proper, two portions, one on the east, the other on the west. All along the north side the fortifications run parallel to the canal, and contain one gate, the Porte de 3 Juifs. (I may mention that there are an "enormous number of Jews in Strasbourg.) Beyond stretches the public park, and gardens of great extent and beauty, on a fine evening tLe resort of the whole inhabitants. The lines here, a» all round are double —having next the town a ram: part thickly studded w;th cannon, besides this a broad moat," succeeding that another rampart, and still another moat. At the north-west corner of the town the lines leave the canal, returning to it at its junction; with the river on the south-west corner,, where i$ the second bridge, Between them and the canal lie*s the railway station and the large barracks of St. Marguerite... Along thei? course are five pentagonal forts—the point of the pentagon outwards, the fifth side being iq the line of the rampart 3. These forts are of great strength, like the lines, double moatedj bristling with cannon. There are also three gates —the Portes de Bune, de Saverne, and Blanche. It i 3 without the middle of these that the camp'of the Turcos is stationed. The gate itselfjis very ancient in some parts, and of curious structure. Going from the town you first cross a drawbridge over a small moat and a portcullis, into a roadway cut right through the-fortifications. This is vaulted* and doorways enter from all sides: Thesa^ lead to niiuc's- whioh lie under* the approaches to-the bridge from without. The passage turns at right angles midway, and is of some length. The closest reiemblanee to it I have seen in Brig] md, on a small scale, is the gate leading into Portsmouth from Southsea. Leaving this passage by a port:, cullis, again another long drawbridge has fq be traversed, and, passing through a very; old curious sculptured gateway, we emerged by a steep ascent into the open roadway. It will be seen from thi3 specimen that such' an entrance would be by no means easy forced. The quarter of the town uniting the second bridge over the river is one network of canals and swamps ; and at this bridge, as atf the other, are massive sluices.- Hence, at no great distance from the river, the fortifications! passing three forts and the Porte d'Hopital,': arrives;at the Porte d'Austerlitz, to which lies, the course to Kehl and the Camp Polygone. The gate, like the others, is a well-nigh impregnable structure, possessing t.hre* gateways', and bridging, two moats. By.the gatq-aca the; Austerlitz barracks, and still farther" oiiHho powder magazine.. Beyond this a small canal j is crossed, and hence, proceeding north,; we again meet ,the fortifications not far from the; p'orit Eojal, aud the last gate —that dc s' Peeheurs. To the west of this line, running north and south, lie the cannon factory, the^ arsenal, and the artillery barracks; to the east1 stretches the esplanade. A canal debouches; on the esplanade, which is a wet sandy plain,; enclosed by the fortifications, leading at! its most eastern extremity to the citadel, every; approach to which is strictly guarded, and co? I had no opportunity of seeing it.