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In the Middle Ages, ruling princes had castles built to protect themselves and their property from attackers. Castles had thick walls and were built on hills, or surrounded by wide, deep moats. A tower offered a far-reaching view, allowing enemy armies to be spotted early.

Once gunpowder had been invented, cannons were used in wars. Castles offered only limited protection against them. To defend themselves, some princes then had special fortresses built, known as citadels. The Electors of Brandenburg ordered a castle near the town of Spandau to be converted into such a citadel.

Work began on the construction in 1557, and it was completed in 1594. The 30-metre-high tower of the old castle and the palas have survived. The tower is still known as the Juliusturm. The electors lived in the palas when they were staying in Spandau. Four bastions were built, connected by walls and ramparts. A bastion is a structure that projects out from a rampart. They were designed so there were no blind spots where attackers could hide.

Fortunately, the citadel has not been used for military purposes for a long time. Today, it hosts exhibitions, concerts, puppet shows and medieval festivals. There is a bat cellar where thousands of bats hibernate. And from the Juliusturm tower, you can enjoy a sweeping view over Spandau and the surrounding area.