diff --git a/src/surface.rs b/src/surface.rs
index fad2d4e..0832a96 100644
--- a/src/surface.rs
+++ b/src/surface.rs
@@ -89,6 +89,29 @@ impl Game {
                 }
             }
         }
+        // a clearing around the knights' fortresses (and anything else they hold) above ground
+        let held: Vec<usize> = (0..self.map.t.len()).filter(|&i| self.map.sky(i) && self.map.t[i].owner == Owner::Hero).collect();
+        let mut cleared = vec![false; self.map.t.len()];
+        for &i in &held {
+            let (x, y) = xy(i);
+            for yy in y - 3..=y + 3 {
+                for xx in x - 3..=x + 3 {
+                    if !inb(xx, yy) || xx < 2 || yy < 2 || xx >= w - 2 || yy >= h - 2 {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    let j = idx(xx, yy);
+                    if cleared[j] || !self.map.sky(j) {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    cleared[j] = true;
+                    let t = &mut self.map.t[j];
+                    if t.owner == Owner::None && matches!(t.kind, Kind::Tree | Kind::Rock) {
+                        t.kind = Kind::Floor;
+                        t.hp = 0.0;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
         // the cave mouths run through into the dungeon: dig until open ground is reached
         for &m in &mouth_rows {
             let ex = edge(m);
@@ -108,6 +131,8 @@ impl Game {
             }
         }
         self.recount();
+        // torches on stands light the clearing at night (and look fine by day)
+        self.place_all_torches();
     }
 
     // the share of the map above ground (0: a dungeon map)
@@ -139,4 +164,23 @@ mod tests {
         let goal = |i: usize| g.map.sky(i) && g.map.t[i].walkable();
         assert!(g.map.search(idx(core.0 + 1, core.1 + 3), g.map.hero_cost_as(false), goal, true).is_some());
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn fortresses_above_ground_stand_in_a_clearing() {
+        let mut g = Game::new(22, 128, 96);
+        let spec = crate::fortress::FortSpec { x: 90, y: 40, w: 15, h: 13, doors: vec![3], towers: vec![TowerKind::Arrow], tower_level: 1, guards: vec![(EK::Knight, 1)], patrols: Vec::new(), vaults: 1, vault_value: 500, shard: false, heart: false };
+        g.build_fortress(&spec);
+        g.add_surface(22, 0.5, 3);
+        let wall = g.map.t.iter().enumerate().filter(|(i, t)| g.map.sky(*i) && t.owner == Owner::Hero && t.kind == Kind::Earth).count();
+        assert!(wall > 20, "the fortress walls stand");
+        // no tree right next to the walls
+        for y in 37..56 {
+            for x in 87..108 {
+                let near = (x >= 89 && x <= 105 && y >= 39 && y <= 53) as bool;
+                if near && g.map.t[idx(x, y)].owner == Owner::None {
+                    assert_ne!(g.map.t[idx(x, y)].kind, Kind::Tree, "tree at {},{}", x, y);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }