Flag of Canada
Halifax
Population: 359,183 (according to the 2001 census)
Location: Eastern coast of Canada
Characteristics:
Provincial capital of Nova Scotia
It began a sister-city affiliation with Hakodate in November 1982. Jointly co-chaired the 1st International Star-Shaped Citadel Cities Summit.
Merged three surrounding municipalities in April 1996.
It was constructed by the British government for protection from attacks by the U.S. and completed in 1856. It was designated as a national historical site in 1951 and is one of the most important historical buildings in Canada.
Visitors enjoy the roar of artillery at noon every day and the reenactment of marching and training of a Victorian regiment in summer.
Flag of Kingdom of the Netherlands
Hellevoetsluis
Population: 36,000
Location: Western Holland, on the North Sea coast
Characteristics:
Developed as a home port of Dutch fleets since the early 17th century, it flourished until the early 20th century due to the shipyards of the Dutch Navy. The city declined when the shipyards were closed down after the navy was evacuated from the city. Later, it was occupied by the German army during World War II. Now, it is revitalized as one of the marine sport centers in Holland, with over 2,000 sailboat berths.
The steam engine of the Kaiyo Maru, which was built in Holland in the late Edo era and later used for the Hakodate War, was installed in a shipyard in Hellevoetsluis.
Star-shaped citadel
It was constructed from 1696 to 1715 to protect the navy shipyards and vessels. The city is promoting a variety of programs to attract tourists by further developing its historical port and star-shaped citadel in view of combining culture and history. As its largest project, the reconstruction of Holland's first dry dock has begun.
Flag of Republic of Cyprus
Population: 269,000
Location: at above the center of the island of Cyprus, in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
Characteristics:
Nicosia has been the Capital of Cyprus for the past thousand years and constitutes the administrative financial and cultural center of the island. The city is the only remaining divided capital in the world. After the arrival in 1191 of the French Crusaders (Lusignan kingdom in Cyprus), the town was protected by medieval city walls, reinforced in the course of the time.
The present form of this historic center of Nicosia was established during the Venetian times (1489-1570). The perimeter of the city was restricted for defensive reasons and the old irregular medieval fortifications were replaced by eleven new rampart circular walls designed by Giulio Savorgnan, one of the planners of Palmanova fortress-town.
Flag of Republic of Finland
Hamina
Population: 10,200
Location: Southeastern Finland, on the Finland Bay coast
Characteristics:
The city was constructed in 1653 when the country was under Swedish rule. Because it is only 40 km away from the Russian border, it has a long history of being ruled and occupied by Sweden and Russia. There are great expectations for its development, as its ports handle the second largest amount of trade in Finland.
Star-shaped citadel
The old downtown area is surrounded by walls, hence the city has very distinctive
historic features. The base of the walls was built in 1722 to protect Sweden
from repeated threats by Russia.
Flag of Republic of Italy
Palmanova
Population: 5,400Location: Northeastern Italy, approx. 20 km inland from the Adriatic Sea
Characteristics:
The Republic of Venezia established this walled city to protect its eastern border from Turkey and Austria. It was occupied by Austria from 1797, ruled by France from 1805 and became Italian territory in 1866.
Star-shaped citadel
With nine bastions, it is one of the most famous star-shaped citadels. It was greatly influenced by the Renaissance theory of the ideal city and architectural culture.
The whole city is surrounded by walls, mounds and trenches. Six roads radiate
from a large hexagonal open space in the center of the city.
Flag of Russian Federation
Population: 4,800,000
Location: Northwestern Russia, on the Finland Bay coast
Characteristics:
St. Petersburg was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great as the “Window to Europe” to create a modern Russian State. A capital of imperial Russia, it also was where the Russian Revolution originated. Renamed Leningrad after Lenin in 1924, it was renamed back to its old name in 1991. It is currently the second biggest city in Russia and serves as the politico-economical, academic and culture center of the country.
The Emperor of
Russia, Peter the Great, constructed the castle in 1703 to prevent invasion of
the Swedish army. A church in the center was named after Christ’s disciples,
Peter and Paul.
Flag of Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Population: 200,000
Location: Central Viet Nam, Thua Thien Hue Province
Characteristics:
It was a capital of the Nguyen Dynasty in the 19th century. It was the site of hard-fought battles during the Vietnam War and suffered heavy damage. There are many remains such as the palace, temples, and the emperor's mausoleum and is considered to be like a “Vietnamese" Kyoto. The historical buildings in Hue were designated as a “World Heritage" by UNESCO.
The remains of the fortress-type castle built in the early 19th century are located in the old downtown area facing the Huon River.
The area is dotted with historical spots and sights including the Nguyen Dynasty palace and Hue Museum.
Flag of Japan
Population: 15,962 (according to the 1999 census)
Location: Minamisaku-County, Nagano
Characteristics:
The city of stars, Usuda, has an astronomical observation facility open to the public, "Usuda Star Dome," and a space observatory with the largest parabolic antenna in the East. With many cultural assets, such as the star-shaped citadel of Tatsuoka Castle and Shingai Sansha Shrine, it has been designated as a model town for preservation of cultural assets by the government. This year, it celebrates both the 40th anniversary of the town organization and the 130th anniversary of the construction of the star-shaped citadel.
It was built by Norikata Matsudaira, the last lord of the Taguchiclan, and is known as Tatsuoka-jo Goryokaku. It is one of two star-shaped citadels in Japan, the other being in Hakodate. The majority of the site is currently occupied by an elementary school.
Flag of Japan
Sightseeing in Hakodate GORYOKAKU AREA
Population: 287,637 (according to 1999 census)
Location: Hokkaido
Characteristics:
Developed as Japan's first international trading port, Hakodate has long promoted exchanges with foreign countries.
With its exotic streets and natural, cultural and historical features, Hakodate is proclaimed as an international tourist city. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, its main industries are fisheries and shipbuilding.
The Edo shogunate ordered Ayasaburo Takeda, a scholar of Dutch studies, to design it for the defense against northern threats.
The construction started in 1857 and was completed in 1864.
It is a beautiful star-shaped citadel. Designated as a national special historic site, Goryokaku Park is visited by citizens throughout the year for a variety of events, such as cherry blossom viewing, the Goryokaku Festival, outdoor plays and "Star Dreams" (the illumination of thecitadel).