Zitadelle Spandau

The 16th-century Spandau Citadel, on a little island in the Havel River, is one of the most important and best-preserved Renaissance fortresses in the world. With its moat, drawbridge and arrowhead-shaped bastions, it is also a veritable textbook in military architecture. Imagine yourself a guard keeping an eye out for enemies as you climb up the crenellated tower called Juliusturm. From 1874 to 1919, somewhere deep in the tower’s bowels, Prussia’s rulers hid the war booty wrestled from France after the war of 1870–71. If you want to fill any gaps in your historical knowledge, drop by the Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Spandau (Spandau City History Museum) in the former armoury. Artsy types should check out the latest exhibit in the Bastion Kronprinz. In winter, you can go ‘batty’ over thousands of bats spending the freezing months in the citadel’s catacombs. You can see them from a viewing room (noon-4pm Wed, Fri-Sun) or join a guided tour (3675 0061; www.berliner-artenschutz.de; adult/concession €10/7) offered sporadically in summer and early autumn (registration required). The entry fee includes the museum, tower and galleries.