Portal:Architecture/Selected article
The Walls of Dubrovnik are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the citizens of the maritime city-state of Dubrovnik (Ragusa), situated in southern Croatia, on a rocky island named Laus (Ragusia or Lave). With numerous additions and modifications throughout history, it have been considered to be amongst the great fortification systems of the Middle Ages, as it were never breached by a hostile army during this time period. In 1979, the old city of Dubrovnik, which includes a substantial portion of the old walls, was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The oldest systems of fortifications around the town were likely wooden palisades. Today's intact city walls, were constructed mainly during the 12th–17th centuries, mostly a double line. The walls run an uninterrupted course of approximately 1,940 metres (6,360 ft) in length, encircling most of the old city, and reach a maximum height of about 25 metres (82 ft). The bulk of the existing walls and fortifications were constructed during the 14th and 15th centuries, but were continually extended and strengthened up until the 17th century.
The walls were reinforced by three circular and 14 quadrangular towers, five bastions (bulwarks), two angular fortifications and the large St. John's Fortress. The walls were additionally reinforced by one larger bastion and nine smaller semicircular ones, like the casemate Fort Bokar, the oldest preserved fort of that kind in Europe.
(more…)