Küstrin an der Oder (Kostrzyn nad Odrą) – Prussian places of remembrance

Frederick II: Flight attempt and fortress imprisonment
To escape his strict father, Frederick II tried to seek refuge in France in 1730. However, the Crown Prince’ attempt failed, resulting in his imprisonment by his father, King Fredrick William I, at Küstrin. The King ordered the beheading of his confident and escape agent, Hans Hermann von Katte, on November 6, 1730 at the bastion of Brandenburg at Küstrin fortress before the eyes of the Crown Prince.

Return to the army
When his arrest ended at the fortress on November 19, 1730, the Crown Prince moved into a house in the town and completed a 9-month cameralistic training at the local war and domain chamber until he was allowed to return to serve in the army. When the fortress was occupied by Russian troops during the Seven Years’ War, King Frederick II advanced his troops on Küstrin and defeated the Russian army at the battle of Zorndorf east of Küstrin on August 25, 1758.

Stroll through Küstrin's Pompeii
Küstrin's historic town centre with fortress was entirely destroyed during the last war. Reconstruction began in 1994 along with efforts to partially reconstruct the historic centre. Parts of the old fortifications, including several bastions, and the fortified gates Berliner and Kietzer Tor have been preserved, however, the foundation walls are what is left of the castle and old town at present. Specially trained tour guides take visitors on strolls across the historically significant fortifications.