Wall of Ciudad Rodrigo
Wall of Ciudad Rodrigo
Ciudad Rodrigo consists of two lines of walls that form an oval-shaped belt around the city, with a length of 2,200 meters and reaching 13 m in height in some places, and flanked by five towers. Of the eight gates that it originally had, seven are preserved today, of which the Puerta de Santiago and the Puerta del Sol stand out. Although there are still remains of the primitive wall from the 12th century, what is seen today was almost entirely built. during the reform of the 18th century.
In the 12th century, Ferdinand II protected Ciudad Rodrigo with a great wall designed by the Galician master Juan de Cabrera. At the end of the 15th century, a second wall was built with large circular towers to house the old enclosure, and a ditch and counter ditch surrounding the city. On June 7, 1810, during the War of Independence, the city was surrounded by the French army. 6,000 men took refuge there and, after resisting the French troops with heroism, had to capitulate on July 10, 1810 before Marshal Massena's 50,000 men.
The medieval wall of Ciudad Rodrigo is practically intact, with its moats, gunboats, and some of its cannons. You can even still see the impacts caused by the French artillery on the cathedral tower and some other buildings.
The wall is equipped for a comfortable walk along it during which you can see views of the city; It begins near the Castle of Enrique II of Trastamara and next to Verraco, where a pre-Roman fort must have been located, and continues along the entire walk along the walkway or roundabout of the wall.
Wikipedia
