洮州衛(wei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)位于(yu)(yu)臨潭縣(xian)新城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)鎮。據《衛(wei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)竣工碑》記載,衛(wei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)筑(zhu)于(yu)(yu)明洪(hong)武十二年(1397),同(tong)時隍廟亦竣。洮州衛(wei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)坐(zuo)北(bei)(bei)面(mian)南,依山而建,平(ping)面(mian)呈不(bu)規則長方(fang)形(xing),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻總周(zhou)長5400余米(mi),總占地面(mian)積2.98平(ping)方(fang)千米(mi)。衛(wei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻順河(he)而建,其他三(san)面(mian)順山而上,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)三(san)分(fen)之(zhi)一位于(yu)(yu)山上,東(dong)北(bei)(bei)高,西南低。四周(zhou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻及南門保存(cun)較好,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻上有馬面(mian)16個、角墩(dun)9個,東(dong)、西、北(bei)(bei)門存(cun)甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)北(bei)(bei)和西北(bei)(bei)山頭有烽火臺。
洪武十(shi)二年(nian)(nian)(公元1379年(nian)(nian))西平侯沐英、大都督金(jin)朝(chao)興于東隴山之南(nan)(nan)川筑(zhu)(zhu)城(cheng)(cheng),得到了(le)當(dang)地(di)藏族土(tu)司頭人(ren)的大力支持。全城(cheng)(cheng)跨山連川,因形(xing)就(jiu)勢而筑(zhu)(zhu),巍然(ran)屹立(li),氣勢雄偉。城(cheng)(cheng)周實測(ce)為(wei)5430米(原載九(jiu)里),垣墻高9米以(yi)上,東西南(nan)(nan)北設四座(zuo)甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng),并有敵樓(lou)。城(cheng)(cheng)內外墩(dun)臺(tai)相(xiang)望,形(xing)成警(jing)報通訊系統。明中葉后(hou),在海眼池南(nan)(nan)筑(zhu)(zhu)垣墻和水西門甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng),成為(wei)甘(gan)南(nan)(nan)現存大的一座(zuo)古城(cheng)(cheng)。
三(san)國(公(gong)(gong)元220-265年(nian))時期,在(zai)臨(lin)潭已有挑(tiao)(tiao)陽(yang)、侯和(he)兩城,蜀將(jiang)姜維與魏將(jiang)鄧艾曾戰于侯和(he)。北(bei)(bei)魏(公(gong)(gong)元420-532年(nian))置(zhi)洪(hong)和(he)郡,北(bei)(bei)周(公(gong)(gong)元572-581年(nian))改置(zhi)美相縣(xian),隋(公(gong)(gong)元581-618年(nian))廢郡置(zhi)州(zhou),成(cheng)為(wei)挑(tiao)(tiao)州(zhou)治(zhi)所。唐貞觀(guan)八(ba)年(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元749年(nian))移州(zhou)治(zhi)于挑(tiao)(tiao)陽(yang)川,原址乃為(wei)美相縣(xian),屬挑(tiao)(tiao)州(zhou)管(guan)轄(xia)。天(tian)寶年(nian)間(公(gong)(gong)元742-756年(nian))并入臨(lin)潭縣(xian)(即今臨(lin)潭縣(xian)舊城)。安史之亂后(hou)沒干吐蕃(fan),其后(hou)未(wei)見建制。故原城址自(zi)唐天(tian)寶至明初,長達600多年(nian),被徹底破壞。在(zai)實測城址時,發現洮州(zhou)衛(wei)城是(shi)在(zai)原洪(hong)和(he)城基(ji)礎上擴(kuo)建改筑(zhu)而成(cheng)的。
城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)有明、清時(shi)期城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)隍廟1座,1936年8月(yue),中(zhong)國(guo)工農(nong)(nong)紅(hong)軍(jun)第四(si)方面軍(jun)在朱德等率領下進駐新城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),在城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)隍廟成(cheng)立(li)臨潭縣蘇(su)(su)維埃(ai)政府,并召開“洮州會(hui)議”作出了四(si)方面軍(jun)停止西(xi)渡的(de)重大決定。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)街道(dao)布局(ju)基(ji)本尚存。隍廟建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)群座落在衛城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)心偏北(bei)的(de)臺地上,坐(zuo)北(bei)朝南,中(zhong)軸對稱,東西(xi)長(chang)51米(mi),南北(bei)130米(mi),現存主(zhu)要建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)四(si)座:大殿、東西(xi)廡殿、山門樓(lou)臺和東西(xi)廊房(fang),為(wei)清代建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)。1936年8月(yue),紅(hong)四(si)方面軍(jun)在朱德、徐向前和李先念指揮(hui)下,攻克新城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),成(cheng)立(li)臨潭蘇(su)(su)維埃(ai)政府,在隍廟召開了著名的(de)“洮州會(hui)議”。1943年,由卓尼水磨川活佛(fo)(fo)肋巴(ba)佛(fo)(fo)和王仲甲領導的(de)甘南各(ge)族農(nong)(nong)牧民(min)大起義也爆發于此,威震西(xi)北(bei)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)部分民(min)居保(bao)存較(jiao)好,特色鮮明。