洮州衛(wei)城(cheng)(cheng)位于臨潭縣新城(cheng)(cheng)鎮。據(ju)《衛(wei)城(cheng)(cheng)竣工碑》記(ji)載(zai),衛(wei)城(cheng)(cheng)筑于明洪武(wu)十二年(1397),同時(shi)隍廟亦竣。洮州衛(wei)城(cheng)(cheng)坐北面南(nan)(nan),依山(shan)而(er)(er)建,平面呈(cheng)不規則長(chang)方形,城(cheng)(cheng)墻總周長(chang)5400余米(mi),總占地面積(ji)2.98平方千米(mi)。衛(wei)城(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)墻順(shun)河而(er)(er)建,其(qi)他(ta)三(san)(san)面順(shun)山(shan)而(er)(er)上,城(cheng)(cheng)三(san)(san)分(fen)之(zhi)一位于山(shan)上,東(dong)(dong)北高,西南(nan)(nan)低。四周城(cheng)(cheng)墻及南(nan)(nan)門(men)保存較好,城(cheng)(cheng)墻上有馬面16個、角墩(dun)9個,東(dong)(dong)、西、北門(men)存甕城(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)(dong)北和西北山(shan)頭(tou)有烽(feng)火臺。
洪武(wu)十二年(公元1379年)西(xi)平侯(hou)沐英、大都督金朝興(xing)于東(dong)隴山之南(nan)川筑城(cheng)(cheng),得(de)到了當(dang)地藏族土司頭人的(de)(de)大力支(zhi)持。全(quan)城(cheng)(cheng)跨山連川,因形就(jiu)勢而筑,巍然屹立,氣勢雄偉(wei)。城(cheng)(cheng)周(zhou)實(shi)測為5430米(mi)(原(yuan)載九(jiu)里(li)),垣(yuan)墻高9米(mi)以(yi)上,東(dong)西(xi)南(nan)北設四座(zuo)甕城(cheng)(cheng),并有敵(di)樓(lou)。城(cheng)(cheng)內外(wai)墩臺(tai)相望(wang),形成警報通訊(xun)系統(tong)。明中葉后,在海眼池南(nan)筑垣(yuan)墻和(he)水西(xi)門(men)甕城(cheng)(cheng),成為甘南(nan)現存大的(de)(de)一座(zuo)古城(cheng)(cheng)。
三(san)國(公(gong)(gong)元220-265年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))時期,在臨潭(tan)已有挑(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)陽(yang)、侯和(he)兩(liang)城(cheng)(cheng),蜀(shu)將姜(jiang)維與魏(wei)將鄧(deng)艾曾戰于(yu)(yu)侯和(he)。北(bei)魏(wei)(公(gong)(gong)元420-532年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))置(zhi)洪(hong)和(he)郡,北(bei)周(公(gong)(gong)元572-581年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))改置(zhi)美(mei)相縣(xian),隋(公(gong)(gong)元581-618年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))廢郡置(zhi)州,成(cheng)為(wei)挑(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)州治所。唐貞觀八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元749年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))移(yi)州治于(yu)(yu)挑(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)陽(yang)川,原址乃為(wei)美(mei)相縣(xian),屬挑(tiao)(tiao)(tiao)州管轄。天(tian)寶年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(公(gong)(gong)元742-756年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))并入臨潭(tan)縣(xian)(即今(jin)臨潭(tan)縣(xian)舊城(cheng)(cheng))。安史(shi)之亂后沒干吐蕃(fan),其后未見建(jian)制(zhi)。故原城(cheng)(cheng)址自(zi)唐天(tian)寶至明初,長(chang)達600多年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),被(bei)徹底破壞。在實(shi)測城(cheng)(cheng)址時,發現(xian)洮州衛城(cheng)(cheng)是在原洪(hong)和(he)城(cheng)(cheng)基礎上擴建(jian)改筑而成(cheng)的。
城(cheng)(cheng)內有明、清時期城(cheng)(cheng)隍(huang)廟(miao)1座,1936年(nian)8月,中國工農紅(hong)軍第(di)四(si)(si)方面軍在(zai)朱(zhu)德等(deng)率領下進駐新(xin)城(cheng)(cheng),在(zai)城(cheng)(cheng)隍(huang)廟(miao)成立臨潭(tan)縣蘇維(wei)埃政府,并(bing)召開(kai)“洮州(zhou)會議(yi)”作出了(le)(le)四(si)(si)方面軍停止(zhi)西渡的(de)重大(da)決定。城(cheng)(cheng)內街(jie)道布局基本尚存(cun)。隍(huang)廟(miao)建(jian)筑群座落在(zai)衛城(cheng)(cheng)中心偏(pian)北的(de)臺地上,坐北朝南,中軸對稱(cheng),東西長(chang)51米,南北130米,現存(cun)主要(yao)建(jian)筑四(si)(si)座:大(da)殿、東西廡殿、山門樓臺和東西廊房,為清代建(jian)筑。1936年(nian)8月,紅(hong)四(si)(si)方面軍在(zai)朱(zhu)德、徐向前(qian)和李先念指揮下,攻克新(xin)城(cheng)(cheng),成立臨潭(tan)蘇維(wei)埃政府,在(zai)隍(huang)廟(miao)召開(kai)了(le)(le)著名(ming)的(de)“洮州(zhou)會議(yi)”。1943年(nian),由(you)卓尼水(shui)磨川活佛肋巴佛和王仲甲領導(dao)的(de)甘南各族(zu)農牧民大(da)起義也爆發于此,威震西北。城(cheng)(cheng)內部(bu)分民居(ju)保存(cun)較好,特色(se)鮮明。