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This article will document the development of Antwerp as a fortified city, and explain why barely anything remains of the former 10th century enceinte, and why the fortifications of the 16th and 19th century are totally invisible for the casual tourist. Only some remains of the first city wall can be seen near the Vleeshuis museum at the corner of Bloedberg and Burchtgracht, and a replica of a ''burg''(castle) named ''Steen'' has been partly rebuild near the Scheldt-quais during the 19th century. Parts of the canals that protected the city between then 12th and 16th century have been covered and used as sewage system, and can be visited but on the surface of the city they are totally invisible. Both the 16th century city walls and the 19th century fortifications have been covered up by major infrastructure works during the 19th and 20th century. This article is related to the development of the Port of Antwerp, other related articles are History of Antwerp and Historic timeline of Antwerp. == Overview == Antwerp's development as a fortified city is documented between the 10th and the 20th century. The fortifications were developed in 6 phases: * First fortification 980 AD : first fortified wall and ditch, improved around 1100 * Second fortification 12th century : first ''vlieten'' and ''ruien'' (city canals) were dug * * Expanded second fortification during 13th and 14th century : * * * expansion to the north with more ''ruien'' * * * expansion to the south with ''vesten'' * Third fortification before the 16th century : on the south and east side of the city * Fourth fortification 16th century : construction of the Spanish fortifications * Fifth fortification early 19th century : construction of a 1st ring of Brialmont fortresses about 10 km form the original ''burg'' * Sixth fortification 19th century after the independence of Belgium : construction of a 2nd ring of Brialmont fortresses about 20 km form the original ''burg'' From the 18th century major works and construction projects have changed the nature of the original innercity canals, and in the 19th and 20th century the projects for the development of the port have destroyed all visible signs of the fortification works and made the canals disappear from view. Some of the fortifications are still being used as military installations 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Fortifications of Antwerp」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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