Fortress Anniversary: 400 Years of Zitadelle Spandau

This commemorative issue celebrates the 400th anniversary of the completion of the Zitadelle Spandau, one of Europe's most significant and best-preserved Renaissance fortresses. Released by the Deutsche Bundespost on June 16, 1994, the 80-pfennig stamp features an aerial view of the star-shaped citadel, highlighting its unique architectural layout surrounded by water.

According to the historical documentation on the reverse of the Ersttagsblatt (First Day Sheet):

The fortress was completed in 1594, having begun construction in 1560 under the direction of Italian architects.

The site includes the Juliusturm, the oldest surviving building in Berlin, dating back to the early 13th century.

Archaeological findings indicate that the site has been a strategically important defensive location since at least the 11th century.

The official collector's sheet, designed by Professor Ernst Kößlinger, includes a first-day-of-issue cancellation from Bonn featuring a specialized postmark that reproduces the geometric floor plan of the fortress.