肇慶古城(cheng)墻(qiang)蜿蜒2800多(duo)米,巍然屹立,位于城(cheng)墻(qiang)西(xi)北段(duan)最高處(chu)的披云樓(lou)高高聳(song)立。青(qing)磚壘(lei)成的斑(ban)駁城(cheng)墻(qiang)和鉆(zhan)出墻(qiang)縫的頑強(qiang)小(xiao)草,向人(ren)們訴說著千年的歷(li)史(shi)滄桑和這個國家級歷(li)史(shi)文(wen)化名城(cheng)的變遷。
宋代的肇慶(qing)古城墻,其城墻一共(gong)開有四門:東曰(yue)宋崇、西曰(yue)鎮西、南(nan)曰(yue)端溪、北(bei)曰(yue)朝天(tian)。因(yin)此(ci)在城墻的周邊(bian)有四個(ge)名稱分別為“東門”“西門”“南(nan)門”“北(bei)門”的公共(gong)汽車站。
城門(men)(men)(men)(men)之上各有城門(men)(men)(men)(men)樓1座,四門(men)(men)(men)(men)之外(wai)(wai)有甕城,城墻四角各有角樓1座,城外(wai)(wai)還有護(hu)城河。明成化五年(nian)(1469年(nian)),知府李璲增厚了部分城墻,并親(qin)自題(ti)書四門(men)(men)(men)(men)石匾額,改東門(men)(men)(men)(men)曰(yue)慶云、西門(men)(men)(men)(men)曰(yue)景星、南門(men)(men)(men)(men)曰(yue)南薰、北(bei)門(men)(men)(men)(men)曰(yue)朝(chao)天(tian)。
現古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)周長(chang)2801.2米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),其中(zhong)東段403.4米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、西(xi)(xi)段376.9米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、南段992.3米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、北段1028.6米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)寬8米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)至18米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),兩邊砌磚(zhuan),中(zhong)間填土,磚(zhuan)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)厚60厘米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)至120厘米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)外(wai)圍有(you)(you)(you)(you)28個突出的(de)(de)敵臺(tai)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)磚(zhuan)有(you)(you)(you)(you)9種不同的(de)(de)規(gui)格,是歷(li)史上多次修(xiu)(xiu)葺的(de)(de)見證。當時為御敵兵(bing),筑土墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang),規(gui)模“僅容廨宇”。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)歷(li)代有(you)(you)(you)(you)擴(kuo)大和(he)修(xiu)(xiu)整(zheng)(zheng)。宋政(zheng)和(he)三年(1113年),知州鄭敦義將土城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)擴(kuo)大,筑為磚(zhuan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),開(kai)4門(men)(men),東曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)宋崇,西(xi)(xi)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)鎮南,南曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)端溪,北曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)朝(chao)天(tian)。4門(men)(men)之外(wai)各有(you)(you)(you)(you)半月形(xing)子城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),稱月城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。月城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)各開(kai)一門(men)(men),稱廓門(men)(men),月城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)之上各有(you)(you)(you)(you)小(xiao)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)一座(zuo)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)四角亦各有(you)(you)(you)(you)角樓(lou)(lou)(lou)一座(zuo),北城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)西(xi)(xi)段有(you)(you)(you)(you)披云樓(lou)(lou)(lou),南城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)東段有(you)(you)(you)(you)文(wen)昌閣。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)上有(you)(you)(you)(you)空心(xin)炮(pao)臺(tai)6座(zuo),小(xiao)炮(pao)臺(tai)17座(zuo),兵(bing)房(fang)13間,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外(wai)有(you)(you)(you)(you)濠塹,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內有(you)(you)(you)(you)內濠。明洪武元年(1368年),由江西(xi)(xi)行省郎(lang)中(zhong)攝(she)府(fu)(fu)事(shi)黃德明主持了(le)(le)首次修(xiu)(xiu)葺。明成化年間,又先后(hou)6次修(xiu)(xiu)葺,增(zeng)加了(le)(le)串樓(lou)(lou)(lou)810間,加厚了(le)(le)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)厚度(du),并刻了(le)(le)四門(men)(men)石匾額,東門(men)(men)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)慶云、西(xi)(xi)門(men)(men)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)景(jing)星、南門(men)(men)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)南薰、北門(men)(men)曰(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)朝(chao)天(tian)。明清(qing)以(yi)來(lai),先后(hou)10多次修(xiu)(xiu)整(zheng)(zheng),其中(zhong)規(gui)模較(jiao)大的(de)(de)有(you)(you)(you)(you):崇禎十四年(1614年),肇慶府(fu)(fu)總督張鏡心(xin)將墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)體增(zeng)高3.5尺,改建(jian)4門(men)(men)月城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。清(qing)順(shun)治八(ba)年(1651年),總兵(bing)許爾顯,知府(fu)(fu)張之璧增(zeng)建(jian)炮(pao)臺(tai)6座(zuo),窩(wo)鋪(pu)148間,水(shui)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)炮(pao)臺(tai)2所,拆除城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)附近的(de)(de)房(fang)屋,增(zeng)修(xiu)(xiu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)堞等(deng)。
肇慶古城(cheng)墻始(shi)建(jian)于宋皇佑年(nian)(nian)中(1053年(nian)(nian))。雖經(jing)過953年(nian)(nian)的風(feng)風(feng)雨(yu)雨(yu),但古城(cheng)墻位置(zhi)與周長始(shi)終(zhong)未變(bian)。像肇慶古城(cheng)墻這樣主(zhu)體和城(cheng)周基本完整的宋代磚城(cheng)墻,是廣東僅有,全國極少見的。
史載(zai)廣(guang)西壯族首領儂智(zhi)高(gao)(gao)反宋,兵鋒直逼端(duan)州,端(duan)州太守(shou)(shou)丁寶臣(chen)因無(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)防(fang)守(shou)(shou),棄城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)逃跑,被朝廷撤(che)職。狄(di)青(qing)平定儂智(zhi)高(gao)(gao)后(hou)(hou)(1053年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),肇(zhao)(zhao)慶始筑土城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)。宋政和三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1113年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))郡守(shou)(shou)鄭(zheng)敦義將土城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)擴(kuo)大,筑為(wei)磚城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),開四門(men):東(dong)曰"宋崇",西曰"鎮西",南(nan)曰"端(duan)溪",北(bei)曰"朝天(tian)"。宋城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)建成之(zhi)后(hou)(hou),經歷250多年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),到(dao)明洪武元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1368年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))才(cai)作首次修(xiu)葺(qi)。明成化元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1465年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至(zhi)清同(tong)治(zhi)十一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)407年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間,先(xian)后(hou)(hou)修(xiu)葺(qi)了(le)20次,其中(zhong)成化十六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1480年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))知府李在披云(yun)樓護(hu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)濠的(de)近濠處(chu)增(zeng)建了(le)樓下磚城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)堵,加大了(le)部分城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)的(de)厚(hou)度(du)。并(bing)且(qie)刻(ke)了(le)四門(men)的(de)石匾額,改東(dong)門(men)為(wei)"慶云(yun)",西門(men)為(wei)"景星",南(nan)門(men)為(wei)"南(nan)薰",北(bei)門(men)仍為(wei)"朝天(tian)"。崇禎(zhen)十四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1641年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))肇(zhao)(zhao)慶府總督張(zhang)(zhang)鏡心主持,對古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)作了(le)更大規模(mo)的(de)修(xiu)葺(qi),把城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)增(zeng)高(gao)(gao)了(le)3尺5寸(cun),使城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)之(zhi)高(gao)(gao)度(du)增(zeng)至(zhi)2丈5尺5寸(cun)。同(tong)時,改建了(le)四門(men)的(de)月(yue)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),增(zeng)筑了(le)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)馬路(lu)。清代,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)多次在戰火中(zhong)損毀,為(wei)加強城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)池(chi)的(de)防(fang)衛。清順治(zhi)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1651年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))總兵許爾顯(xian)、知府張(zhang)(zhang)之(zhi)璧在城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)上增(zeng)建炮臺6座、窩鋪148間、水(shui)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)炮臺2所,拆除(chu)離城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)4尺以內的(de)房屋,增(zeng)置修(xiu)葺(qi)樓堞(die)。此后(hou)(hou)直至(zhi)民國初年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)池(chi)保持完好。
1915年,乙卯洪災(zai),城(cheng)(cheng)垣抵御了(le)洪災(zai),使(shi)城(cheng)(cheng)內仍安然(ran)無(wu)恙。但城(cheng)(cheng)垣因(yin)此受(shou)到損害(hai)。1916年,肇陽(yang)羅鎮(zhen)守使(shi)李耀漢即撥款修(xiu)葺城(cheng)(cheng)墻,浚治東門(men)(men)(men)外的濠道。從1924年至1926年,將城(cheng)(cheng)墻上的城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)(men)樓(lou)、雉角樓(lou)、文昌閣、月城(cheng)(cheng)炮臺,城(cheng)(cheng)墻除(chu)披(pi)云樓(lou)段外全部(bu)拆低(di)了(le)約7市(shi)尺,并填(tian)塞城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)(men),修(xiu)成斜坡以利交(jiao)通(tong)。
宋(song)城(cheng)內歷史上曾有過端(duan)州(zhou)府衙、兩廣(guang)總(zong)督府、端(duan)溪(xi)書(shu)院、校場、廣(guang)濟(ji)倉和(he)商業街市等。按照我市名城(cheng)保(bao)護規(gui)劃和(he)文(wen)化(hua)建設規(gui)劃,對(dui)古城(cheng)墻(qiang)將(jiang)分期進(jin)行整體(ti)恢復(fu)和(he)保(bao)護。與此同時,對(dui)宋(song)城(cheng)內和(he)周邊地區,將(jiang)加大整治力度(du),保(bao)護好并(bing)逐步恢復(fu)有關文(wen)物遺址。
肇慶"宋文化(hua)"景點(dian)之肇慶古城(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang),端州區的(de)古城(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang),始建于宋政和三年(1113年),周長2800多米(mi),高6.5一10米(mi),寬8.5一18米(mi)。城(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)外(wai)皮砌磚,內為夯土。宋代(dai)的(de)城(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)開四(si)門:東曰(yue)(yue)(yue)宋崇、西曰(yue)(yue)(yue)鎮南、南曰(yue)(yue)(yue)端溪、北曰(yue)(yue)(yue)朝天。城(cheng)門之上(shang)各(ge)有(you)(you)城(cheng)門樓1座,四(si)門之外(wai)有(you)(you)甕城(cheng),城(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)四(si)角各(ge)有(you)(you)角樓1座,城(cheng)外(wai)還有(you)(you)護城(cheng)河。明清兩代(dai)歷經近20次修(xiu)聾。
肇慶古(gu)城墻始(shi)于宋朝(chao)建成,并投入軍事使用,在明朝(chao)、清朝(chao)兩代歷經近20次修(xiu)聾。期間雷雹(bao)洪災,風吹(chui)雨打,然(ran)而主體保持完好。
中華民(min)國十(shi)(shi)三年至十(shi)(shi)五(wu)年(1924-1926年),城(cheng)墻上的城(cheng)門樓、角(jiao)樓、雉堞、甕城(cheng)被(bei)全部拆毀(hui),用以填塞城(cheng)
門和護(hu)城(cheng)河以利(li)交通,使城(cheng)墻遭到極(ji)大的破壞。
1924年(nian)-1926年(nian),城(cheng)墻(qiang)上的(de)城(cheng)門(men)樓、角(jiao)樓、雉堞、甕城(cheng)被全部拆毀,用以(yi)填塞城(cheng)門(men)和護城(cheng)河以(yi)利交通(tong),使城(cheng)墻(qiang)遭(zao)到(dao)極大的(de)破(po)壞。
1987年(nian)以(yi)后(hou),肇慶(qing)(qing)市(shi)政府為(wei)保護名城的(de)標(biao)志性建筑(zhu),曾多次(ci)撥(bo)專款搶(qiang)修北(bei)段城墻,恢(hui)復(fu)了(le)(le)"朝天(tian)門"、墩臺和雉(zhi)堞(die),并(bing)重(zhong)建了(le)(le)披(pi)云樓(lou),使肇慶(qing)(qing)古城墻得(de)以(yi)重(zhong)現。但到今天(tian),宋(song)(song)城墻除(chu)了(le)(le)北(bei)側一(yi)段,四(si)周仍處在后(hou)世(shi)建筑(zhu)的(de)包圍(wei)之中。如何(he)使城墻擺脫包圍(wei),恢(hui)復(fu)本來面目。肇慶(qing)(qing)市(shi)有關部(bu)門在開通(tong)北(bei)側宋(song)(song)城一(yi)路(lu)以(yi)后(hou),又投入(ru)巨資建設宋(song)(song)城二路(lu),使之與宋(song)(song)城一(yi)路(lu)連接,將北(bei)側首先展現給(gei)世(shi)人。
1987年(nian)至于1996年(nian)間,肇(zhao)(zhao)慶市人(ren)民政府(fu)為保護名城(cheng)的(de)標(biao)志(zhi)性建筑,發展(zhan)旅游事業,曾多次(ci)撥專(zhuan)款搶(qiang)修(xiu)北段城(cheng)墻,本著“整舊(jiu)(jiu)如(ru)舊(jiu)(jiu)”、“恢(hui)復原貌”的(de)修(xiu)繕原則,恢(hui)復“朝(chao)天門(men)”、墩臺和雉堞,并重建了披云樓,使肇(zhao)(zhao)慶古城(cheng)墻得以(yi)重現,肇(zhao)(zhao)慶國家(jia)歷史文(wen)化名城(cheng)得以(yi)再(zai)度(du)輝煌。其中歷史價(jia)值較高的(de)是宋城(cheng)路一帶(dai)城(cheng)墻的(de)北段,在其內(nei)部(bu)(bu)為廣東(dong)肇(zhao)(zhao)慶中學初(chu)中部(bu)(bu)和肇(zhao)(zhao)慶市第一人(ren)民醫院舊(jiu)(jiu)址。
解(jie)放后(hou),人民政(zheng)府依法(fa)保(bao)護和分期維修城(cheng)墻,逐(zhu)步(bu)整治周邊環(huan)境,使其(qi)雄姿再現。它是(shi)歷史(shi)文化名城(cheng)肇慶較(jiao)具標志性的建(jian)筑,1989年被廣東省人民政(zheng)府公(gong)布為(wei)省重(zhong)點(dian)文物(wu)保(bao)護單(dan)位(wei),2001年被國務院公(gong)布為(wei)全國重(zhong)點(dian)文物(wu)保(bao)護單(dan)位(wei)。