Wilhelmsburg was built from 1842 to 1849 as the Citadel's reduit. The Citadel comprised work XII of the Wilhelmsburg and works XIII to XVIII of Fort Wilhelm and was the largest of the town-wall fortifications. In contrast to all the other works; the ›Wilhelmsburg‹ had no ramparts and consisted only of four re-inforced bunkers in the three towers. Over the decades, different regiments and units were stationed here.
After the Second World War, the Wilhelmsburg was officially used as a refugee camp, although several citizens of Ulm, whose homes had been bombed or requisitioned, also took shelter here. At any one time, a total of almost 3,000 people lived in the ›Wilhelmsburg‹, which had its own shop, post office and school.
In 1956, the newly formed German army moved in and up until 1970, soldiers were still stationed in the bunkers of the Wilhelmsburg.
Since then, the more than 570 rooms have been empty, apart from a few that have been rented out to companies.
References:The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.
In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.