Nauders Fortresss

The Nauders road barrier, also known as the Hochfinstermünz barrier, is a fortress structure two and a half kilometers northwest of the village of Nauders in North Tyrol. The complex was built between 1834 and 1840 on the site of an old defensive wall and is the oldest manned fortress on the Austrian side during World War I.

Nauders Fortress is located in a gorge in the salient radius of a double curve, making it practically unassailable. It is the only old Austrian fortification from the southern barrier chain that is still on Austrian soil. The work was not involved in combat and is therefore very well preserved. Today, the "Nauders Fortress" museum is located within the fortress.

The structure does not yet show the unadorned simplicity of later years; great importance was still placed on architectural balance here. The geographical conditions were optimally taken into account during construction, with the structure literally nestled against the rock. The complex blocked the road from the Reschen Pass to Landeck and Vorarlberg and Innsbruck. However, its defensive capability extends in two directions, so there was also a field of fire to the north.

The following inscription can be read on the north-facing gable:

FRANCISCUS I. 1834. FERDINANDUS I. 1840.

This refers to the two Austrian emperors Franz I and Ferdinand I, under whose rule the construction took place.

In accordance with the times, the structure is built of masonry and can only be described as moderately shell-proof. Exceptions are the parts built into the rock, which were therefore considered absolutely bomb-proof. However, direct shelling would not have been possible, and indirect shelling by howitzers from the road over the rock overhangs would probably not have brought much success either.

The work was equipped for rifle and artillery fire and had a gorge ditch with a retractable bridge. A two-story gorge casemate, designed to accommodate eight cannons, is attached to the road.

First floor: two single casemates on each side. Second floor: one double casemate on each side.

The complex was equipped with eight 8-cm casemate cannons M 94, two of which were transferred to the Gomagoi barrier at the beginning of the war.

The rear part is built high and has up to four stories in places, all equipped with rifle loopholes. Inside are two-story troop casemates and supply rooms. Fresh water was drawn from a stream flowing under the work.