Fort Kugelbake, Cuxhaven

Fort Kugelbake is a former naval fortress in Cuxhaven in today's Döse spa district. It is located on the last headland at the mouth of the Elbe River behind the sea dike near the Kugelbake sea mark that gives it its name. The fort was built between 1869 and 1879 at a strategically favorable position at the mouth of the river in order to block access to the Elbe for enemy warships, at that time French, with its 14 coastal guns. Today it is the last surviving naval artillery fort on the German North Sea coast.