The 28-day siege, the longest of the entire war, centered on an earthen star fort.
They constructed a star fort which remains one of the town's landmarks.
The citadel in the south of the town is a pentagonal star fort.
The star fort continued to serve as a military facility until 1964, but just as a garrison.
Additional buildings originally built within the star fort, such as officer's housing, have long since been destroyed.
In the seventeenth century, a star fort was constructed.
Each triangular arm of the star shaped fort is about 156 feet in length.
In 1851 the star fort was given up and Bourtange became a normal village.
On the other side of the river that flows through the Matara town is the star fort.
It became a star fort, following the addition of 12 bastions.
