Castle da Rocha Forte, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Castle da Rocha Forte was built by Archbishop Juan Arias around 1240 and has since served as an archbishop's and cabildo's residence, witnessing much of the medieval history of Santiago. In the year 1255 appears the first documentary mention of the fortress in relation to the capitular constitutions of Juan Arias. The castle was situated in a strategic location by road from Padrón village to Santiago. Pilgrims followed that route from Portugal.

In addition to its purpose for defence, the castle was also a home for the Archbishop, which could provide the men of the local church a shelter from rioting citizens. In 1317, Berenguel de Landoira was nominated as Archbishop. The residents did not like him and started a rebellion. Archbishop Landoira had all the leaders of the rebellion executed. In the 15th century in Irmandiño wars the castle was damaged badly and it was abandoned. Later, in 1472 the walls were dismantled. During the Franco era the ruins were used as a hideout. In 1962, an electricity pylon was installed to the castle area.

Since 2001, a series of archaeological excavations have been carried out, thanks to an agreement between the City Council of Santiago and the University of Santiago de Compostela, in order to recover the deposit and consolidate it by means of the creation of an Archaeological Park.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Carlota Alexandra López Costas (16 days ago)
Cerrado al público. Todo vallado y con mal mantenimiento de la zona exterior. Recomendación: da toda la vuelta a la muralla, por detrás se puede ver de cerca.

Luis Santamaria (5 months ago)
The excavation is very well preserved, the only thing I find missing is that the Camino de Santiago should pass through here. Although the ruins are fenced to avoid deterioration, it would be very nice for pilgrims to be able to pass by these centuries-old stones.

Francisco Basto (7 months ago)
O Castelo da Rocha Forte também conhecido como Castelo dos Churruchaos localiza-se na paróquia de Conxo, município de Santiago de Compostela, na província de Corunha, comunidade autónoma da Galiza, em Espanha. É constítuido por distintas cercas defensivas, das quais se conserva a exterior no extensão de 40 metros na área Sudoeste. Do interior conserva-se todo o perímetro, além de outras estruturas da área central, onde se poderia erguer a Torre de menagem, assim como os restos dos torreões nos seus ângulos, flanqueando o acesso principal, apesar de subsistirem apenas os seus embasamentos. Existem ainda dependências subterrâneas das quais até agora, só foram documentados os acessos por escadas. O Castelo foi construído por determinação do Arcebispo Xoán Arias por volta do ano 1240 e desde então serviu com residência do Arcebispo e do Cabido. No ano de 1255 surgiu a primeira menção documental da fortificação em relação com as constituições capitulares de Xoán Arias.

Gerard Fleming (10 months ago)
Nothing special. Happened to be walking the back roads towards Santiago..

Marcia Elena Vilcarromero (2 years ago)
Nothing Really Special to be visited

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Derbent is the southernmost city in Russia, occupying the narrow gateway between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains connecting the Eurasian steppes to the north and the Iranian Plateau to the south. Derbent claims to be the oldest city in Russia with historical documentation dating to the 8th century BCE. Due to its strategic location, over the course of history, the city changed ownership many times, particularly among the Persian, Arab, Mongol, Timurid, Shirvan and Iranian kingdoms.

Derbent has archaeological structures over 5,000 years old. As a result of this geographic peculiarity, the city developed between two walls, stretching from the mountains to the sea. These fortifications were continuously employed for a millennium and a half, longer than any other extant fortress in the world.

A traditionally and historically Iranian city, the first intensive settlement in the Derbent area dates from the 8th century BC. The site was intermittently controlled by the Persian monarchs, starting from the 6th century BC. Until the 4th century AD, it was part of Caucasian Albania which was a satrap of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. In the 5th century Derbent functioned as a border fortress and the seat of Sassanid Persians. Because of its strategic position on the northern branch of the Silk Route, the fortress was contested by the Khazars in the course of the Khazar-Arab Wars. In 654, Derbent was captured by the Arabs.

The Sassanid fortress does not exist any more, as the famous Derbent fortress as it stands today was built from the 12th century onward. Derbent became a strong military outpost and harbour of the Sassanid empire. During the 5th and 6th centuries, Derbent also became an important center for spreading the Christian faith in the Caucasus.

The site continued to be of great strategic importance until the 19th century. Today the fortifications consist of two parallel defence walls and Naryn-Kala Citadel. The walls are 3.6km long, stretching from the sea up to the mountains. They were built from stone and had 73 defence towers. 9 out of the 14 original gates remain.

In Naryn-Kala Citadel most of the old buildings, including a palace and a church, are now in ruins. It also holds baths and one of the oldest mosques in the former USSR.

In 2003, UNESCO included the old part of Derbent with traditional buildings in the World Heritage List.

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