500 Koruna 2007 - Old Fortress in Komárno (BK)

Komarno, a town situated at the confluence of the Danube and Vah rivers, is one of the oldest settlements in the Carpathian Basin. In the 16th century, it lay on the border of the Habsburg Monarchy and the Osman Empire. Therefore, in the first half of the 16th century, under the rule of Ferdinand I, the medieval Komarno Royal Castle was rebuilt into a well defended fortress. The ruler probably commissioned Pietro Ferrabocso, an important Italian architect, painter and sculptor, to draw up the project. He designed a state-of-the-art polygonal bastion system. The construction of the Renaissance anti-Turkish fortress began in 1546 under the guidance of Italian builders, and was completed in 1557. In the 17th century, the Old Fortress was expanded by the New Fortress and the advanced bridgeheads behind the banks of the Danube and Vah rivers. In the 19th century, it was used as a basis for the construction of a large defence system, which became the largest, strongest defence structure of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and one which was never captured. With regard to its architectonic and historical value, it is one of the most important historic fortifications in the world.