San Lorenzo del Puntal Fortress

Cádiz, Spain

San Lorenzo del Puntal Castle is one of the oldest fortifications in Cádiz, built in 1587. It was attacked by British-Dutch fleet in 1595 without conquest. However, it was destroyed by another attack in the early 17th century and rebuilt in 1629.

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Address

Unnamed Road, Cádiz, Spain
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Details

Founded: 1587
Category: Castles and fortifications in Spain

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Juan Manuel Marquez Garcia (4 years ago)
Great Castle, with great historical references and well preserved. The bad thing is the schedule of views and the opening to the public, which is hardly visible, except a few days a year. It should be considered by public administrations as a cultural and tourist use to revalidate the area.
ClÁsico (4 years ago)
If you want to know something more, continue reading: it is located in the city of Cádiz, located on a point of land that narrows access to the interior of the bay. His construction technique is Italian. Oval in plan, it was made up of two semi-bastions with flanks, moats and curtains, which were accessed by a drawbridge that isolated the fortress. On its left side there was a barleta battery, with up to 14 cannons and some mortars, which directed towards the entrance of the bay, and crossing its fires with the Matagorda fort, located on the other side, served as a defense to the Carraca pass and therefore at the entrance to the bay. While inside there were numerous buildings or rooms of simple construction, used as spare parts for gunpowder, warehouses, accommodation, chapel, body of guard, workshops or kitchens. In front of the castle stands, since 1955, one of the towers of the Seville Electricity Company, twin with the one located in Matagorda, on the other side of the Bay. it was, together with that of San Luis and Matagorda, part of the complex defensive system installed in the city of Cádiz during the War of Independence, to control the entrance to the Bay. Located on a point of land that narrows access to the interior of the bay, its origin dates back to the 16th century, and therefore it is considered one of the oldest castles that were built in Cádiz. Already in 1554, Juan Bautista Calvi raised the need to protect the El Puntal area, as it is the area with the easiest access from the mainland. In 1588 a small fortress had been built, formed by an armored tower with five cannons, which was a silent witness to one of the most terrible episodes in the history of the city, the famous "English Sack" that had so many consequences in Cádiz historiography. . It was the year 1596 when a powerful Anglo-Dutch fleet, made up of more than 150 ships and about 15,000 men, led by the famous Count Essex, entered the bay, conquered Cádiz and took this castle. The occupation lasted only 15 days, but the consequences were felt, both in the city that was entirely sacked, and in the fortress that was entirely destroyed. In 1598, Felipe II decided to rebuild the city and provide it with adequate defenses, and that same year the work of the Puntales fortress would begin, under the orders of the engineer Cristóbal Rojas, also in charge of the construction of the Castle of Santa Catalina. In 1609 the stakes were already in place prior to laying the foundations of the castle. In 1612 its construction was very advanced in relation to the foundations. These works continued, although discontinuously for several years due to lack of funds. In 1616, with Cristóbal de Rojas already dead, only the foundations had been laid. Alonso de Vandelvira then made a new trace of the fort, correcting some errors and making notable changes, among them he thought it was not convenient to use tiles. The walls would be made, not of masonry, but of lime, sand and gravel, which formed a concrete very resistant to batteries. In 1624 the Duke of Infantado stated in the Council that the Puntal Fort should be widened because its artillery had little playing capacity, since when firing the pieces they beat the soldiers' accommodation in the retreat, threatening to knock it down after a few shots. In 1625 another Anglo-Dutch assault ensued that made clear the effectiveness of the city's defenses, including the Puntal. In 1634 the endowment to the Castle was expanded and was perfected under the direction of Luis Bravo de Acuña. In the first half of the 18th century, the land front was built, under the direction of the Marquis de Verboon, and later on, the construction of a battery that would line towards the canal was planned. If you liked it, give it a Like, Thank you. source IAPH
Encarni Santos (5 years ago)
Muy interesante de ver, con la recreación histórica
evaa dreamer (5 years ago)
Carisimo
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