käsibaaride

Käsibaaride, also known as Finnish bastion, is a traditional type of fortification used in 16th-century Estonia and Latvia. It is a defensive structure built of stone or brick, often situated on a hill or elevation. The name "käsibaaride" translates to "wrist bastion" in Estonian, which refers to its physical appearance, with a circular or polygonal shape that resembles a wrist support.

Käsibaaride were built by Estonian and Livonian city-states to protect themselves from invaders, including the Teutonic Knights and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The structures were typically small, ranging from 1 to 5 meters in height and 3 to 8 meters in diameter. They were designed to be highly visible, with open views in multiple directions, allowing defenders to detect incoming enemies.

Käsibaaride often featured a small entrance, sometimes with a covered portcullis, and regular intervals of narrow slits for shooting arrows or firearms. The structures were frequently used in conjunction with other defensive lines and fortifications, such as lines of earthworks or feldworks. Many käsibaaride have survived to the present day and can still be seen in Estonia and Latvia. They are considered remnants of the area's medieval defensive heritage.

Archaeological excavations and restoration efforts have helped to preserve some of these valuable structures, although many have been destroyed over the centuries. Today, käsibaaride serve as significant historical and cultural landmarks, showcasing the region's unique blend of medieval military architecture and folk engineering innovations.