Augustówka Fort

On the left bank of the Vistula River, by the Sierkierkowska route, there is an embankment, which is part of the former Augustówka X Fort – also called Siekierki. It is a defensive structure built in the 1880s. It completes the ring of Russian fortifications in Warsaw. Because of its location in the wetlands it was not fortified with brick elements. Instead, fortifications consisted of two earth embankments surrounded by a moat, which closed off the Vistula River valley. In 1913 when the object was being removed some of the earth elements of the structure were damaged. Today, traces of shooting trenches are still visible at the top of the embankment. In September 1939 the Polish Army fought here and then in 1944 the German army.

After World War II the fort was converted into a military shooting range. Not so long ago, children playing there dug out from the butts bullets known as ‘tips’ from used cartridges. The shooting range was done away with when the Siekierkowska road was built. These days competitions are held there in model airplane racing, rifle shooting and archery. There is also an obstacle dirt track for cyclists. An interesting bike track runs around the fort.