A huge fort in downtown Halifax. The Citadel has a commanding view of the narrows. The official line: The current star-shaped fortress, or citadel, is formally known as Fort George and was completed in 1856, following 28 years of construction. This massive masonry-construction fort was designed to repel a land-based attack by United States forces and was inspired by the designs of Louis XIV’s commissary of fortifications Sébastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban – a star-shaped hillock fortress with internal courtyard and clear harbour view from armoured ramparts.