Saint Michael’s Bastion

There was a human presence here early on in Antwerp’s history. Archaeologists found skeletons here that were about one thousand years old. These findings contribute to the assumption that Antwerp developed out of two residential cores, one in this location and the other one near Steen Castle.
Later on, this area became one of the city’s defences. In 1612, Saint Michael’s Bastion replaced older, medieval defences. The bastion, a pentagonal defence, was designed to protect the city against attacks from the Scheldt. It was demolished during the construction of the present-day quays (1877-1885).

GISid: 
091
Afbeelding: 
Saint Michael’s Bastion as featured in the painting 'View of the port of Antwerp from Vlaams Hoofd'
Sketch by M. Coignet of the bastion
Saint Michael’s Bastion on the map of Virgilius Bononiensis (1565)
The bastion’s wall is exposed during an archaeological survey of the Scheldt quays (2010)
Top view of the bastion’s southern face and flank during an archaeological survey of the Scheldt quays (2010)
The city wall on the Scheldt side during an archaeological survey of the Scheldt quays (2010)
Latitude: 
51.22
Longitude: 
4.39

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