肇慶古城(cheng)墻(qiang)蜿蜒2800多米,巍然屹立,位于城(cheng)墻(qiang)西(xi)北段(duan)最高(gao)處的(de)(de)(de)披云(yun)樓高(gao)高(gao)聳立。青磚壘成的(de)(de)(de)斑駁(bo)城(cheng)墻(qiang)和鉆出墻(qiang)縫的(de)(de)(de)頑強(qiang)小草(cao),向人們訴說著千年(nian)的(de)(de)(de)歷(li)史滄桑和這個國家(jia)級歷(li)史文化名城(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)變(bian)遷。
宋代的肇慶古城墻(qiang),其城墻(qiang)一共開(kai)有四(si)(si)門:東(dong)曰(yue)(yue)宋崇、西曰(yue)(yue)鎮西、南曰(yue)(yue)端溪、北(bei)曰(yue)(yue)朝天。因此在(zai)城墻(qiang)的周(zhou)邊(bian)有四(si)(si)個名(ming)稱(cheng)分別為“東(dong)門”“西門”“南門”“北(bei)門”的公共汽車站。
城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)之上各有城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)樓1座,四門(men)之外有甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻四角(jiao)各有角(jiao)樓1座,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外還有護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河(he)。明(ming)成化五年(1469年),知府(fu)李璲(sui)增(zeng)厚了部分城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻,并親自題書四門(men)石匾額,改東門(men)曰慶云、西門(men)曰景星、南門(men)曰南薰、北門(men)曰朝(chao)天。
現古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)周(zhou)長2801.2米(mi),其(qi)中(zhong)東(dong)段403.4米(mi)、西(xi)(xi)段376.9米(mi)、南(nan)段992.3米(mi)、北(bei)段1028.6米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)寬8米(mi)至18米(mi),兩邊(bian)砌磚(zhuan),中(zhong)間(jian)填土,磚(zhuan)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)厚(hou)60厘米(mi)至120厘米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)外圍有(you)(you)(you)(you)28個突出的(de)敵臺(tai)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)磚(zhuan)有(you)(you)(you)(you)9種(zhong)不同的(de)規格,是歷史上(shang)多次(ci)修(xiu)葺(qi)的(de)見證(zheng)。當時(shi)為御(yu)敵兵,筑(zhu)(zhu)土墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang),規模(mo)“僅容(rong)廨宇”。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)歷代有(you)(you)(you)(you)擴(kuo)大(da)和修(xiu)整(zheng)。宋(song)政(zheng)和三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1113年(nian)(nian)(nian)),知州鄭敦義將土城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)擴(kuo)大(da),筑(zhu)(zhu)為磚(zhuan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),開4門(men),東(dong)曰宋(song)崇,西(xi)(xi)曰鎮(zhen)南(nan),南(nan)曰端(duan)溪,北(bei)曰朝天。4門(men)之(zhi)外各(ge)(ge)有(you)(you)(you)(you)半(ban)月(yue)形子城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),稱月(yue)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。月(yue)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)各(ge)(ge)開一門(men),稱廓門(men),月(yue)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)之(zhi)上(shang)各(ge)(ge)有(you)(you)(you)(you)小樓(lou)一座。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)四角亦各(ge)(ge)有(you)(you)(you)(you)角樓(lou)一座,北(bei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)西(xi)(xi)段有(you)(you)(you)(you)披(pi)云(yun)樓(lou),南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)東(dong)段有(you)(you)(you)(you)文(wen)昌閣。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)上(shang)有(you)(you)(you)(you)空心炮臺(tai)6座,小炮臺(tai)17座,兵房13間(jian),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外有(you)(you)(you)(you)濠(hao)(hao)塹,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)有(you)(you)(you)(you)內(nei)濠(hao)(hao)。明洪(hong)武元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1368年(nian)(nian)(nian)),由(you)江西(xi)(xi)行(xing)省郎中(zhong)攝府事黃德明主持了(le)首次(ci)修(xiu)葺(qi)。明成化年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian),又先后6次(ci)修(xiu)葺(qi),增加(jia)了(le)串樓(lou)810間(jian),加(jia)厚(hou)了(le)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)厚(hou)度,并刻(ke)了(le)四門(men)石匾(bian)額,東(dong)門(men)曰慶云(yun)、西(xi)(xi)門(men)曰景(jing)星、南(nan)門(men)曰南(nan)薰、北(bei)門(men)曰朝天。明清(qing)以(yi)來(lai),先后10多次(ci)修(xiu)整(zheng),其(qi)中(zhong)規模(mo)較(jiao)大(da)的(de)有(you)(you)(you)(you):崇禎十四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1614年(nian)(nian)(nian)),肇慶府總(zong)(zong)督張鏡心將墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)體增高3.5尺,改建4門(men)月(yue)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。清(qing)順治八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1651年(nian)(nian)(nian)),總(zong)(zong)兵許爾(er)顯(xian),知府張之(zhi)璧增建炮臺(tai)6座,窩鋪148間(jian),水城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)炮臺(tai)2所,拆(chai)除(chu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)附近的(de)房屋,增修(xiu)樓(lou)堞等。
肇慶古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)墻始建于宋皇佑(you)年中(1053年)。雖經過953年的風風雨雨,但古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)墻位置與周長(chang)始終(zhong)未變(bian)。像肇慶古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)墻這樣(yang)主體(ti)和(he)城(cheng)(cheng)周基本完(wan)整的宋代(dai)磚城(cheng)(cheng)墻,是廣東僅有(you),全國(guo)極少見的。
史載廣(guang)西壯族(zu)首(shou)領儂智(zhi)高反宋(song),兵(bing)鋒直逼端(duan)州,端(duan)州太(tai)守丁寶(bao)臣因無城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)防(fang)守,棄城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)逃(tao)跑,被(bei)朝(chao)廷撤職。狄(di)青平定(ding)儂智(zhi)高后(hou)(1053年(nian)(nian)(nian)),肇慶(qing)始筑(zhu)土城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)。宋(song)政和三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1113年(nian)(nian)(nian))郡守鄭敦義將土城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)擴大,筑(zhu)為磚城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),開四門(men):東曰"宋(song)崇",西曰"鎮西",南(nan)曰"端(duan)溪",北曰"朝(chao)天"。宋(song)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)建成之(zhi)后(hou),經(jing)歷250多年(nian)(nian)(nian),到明洪武元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1368年(nian)(nian)(nian))才作首(shou)次(ci)修(xiu)葺。明成化(hua)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1465年(nian)(nian)(nian))至(zhi)清(qing)(qing)同治十(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)407年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian),先后(hou)修(xiu)葺了(le)20次(ci),其中(zhong)成化(hua)十(shi)六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1480年(nian)(nian)(nian))知府(fu)李在披云樓(lou)護(hu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)濠(hao)的(de)(de)近濠(hao)處(chu)增(zeng)(zeng)建了(le)樓(lou)下磚城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)堵,加大了(le)部分城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)的(de)(de)厚度。并且刻了(le)四門(men)的(de)(de)石匾額(e),改東門(men)為"慶(qing)云",西門(men)為"景(jing)星",南(nan)門(men)為"南(nan)薰(xun)",北門(men)仍為"朝(chao)天"。崇禎十(shi)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1641年(nian)(nian)(nian))肇慶(qing)府(fu)總督張鏡心主持,對古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)作了(le)更大規模的(de)(de)修(xiu)葺,把城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)增(zeng)(zeng)高了(le)3尺5寸,使城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)之(zhi)高度增(zeng)(zeng)至(zhi)2丈5尺5寸。同時,改建了(le)四門(men)的(de)(de)月城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),增(zeng)(zeng)筑(zhu)了(le)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)馬(ma)路。清(qing)(qing)代,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)多次(ci)在戰火中(zhong)損毀,為加強城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)池(chi)的(de)(de)防(fang)衛。清(qing)(qing)順治八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1651年(nian)(nian)(nian))總兵(bing)許爾顯、知府(fu)張之(zhi)璧在城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)上增(zeng)(zeng)建炮臺6座、窩鋪148間(jian)、水(shui)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)炮臺2所,拆(chai)除離(li)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)4尺以(yi)內的(de)(de)房屋,增(zeng)(zeng)置修(xiu)葺樓(lou)堞。此(ci)后(hou)直至(zhi)民(min)國(guo)初年(nian)(nian)(nian),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)池(chi)保持完(wan)好。
1915年(nian),乙卯洪災,城(cheng)垣抵(di)御了洪災,使(shi)城(cheng)內仍(reng)安然(ran)無恙。但(dan)城(cheng)垣因此受(shou)到損害(hai)。1916年(nian),肇陽羅鎮守使(shi)李耀漢即(ji)撥(bo)款修(xiu)葺(qi)城(cheng)墻,浚治東門外的(de)(de)濠道。從1924年(nian)至1926年(nian),將城(cheng)墻上的(de)(de)城(cheng)門樓、雉角樓、文昌閣、月城(cheng)炮臺(tai),城(cheng)墻除(chu)披云樓段外全部拆(chai)低了約7市尺(chi),并填塞城(cheng)門,修(xiu)成斜坡以利交(jiao)通(tong)。
宋(song)城(cheng)內歷史上曾有過端州府衙、兩廣(guang)總督(du)府、端溪(xi)書院、校場、廣(guang)濟(ji)倉和(he)商業街(jie)市等。按照我市名城(cheng)保護規(gui)劃和(he)文化建設規(gui)劃,對古(gu)城(cheng)墻將分期(qi)進(jin)行整(zheng)體(ti)恢復(fu)和(he)保護。與(yu)此同時(shi),對宋(song)城(cheng)內和(he)周邊地區,將加大整(zheng)治(zhi)力度,保護好并逐步恢復(fu)有關文物(wu)遺址。
肇慶(qing)"宋文化"景點之(zhi)(zhi)肇慶(qing)古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang),端州區的古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang),始建于宋政和(he)三年(nian)(1113年(nian)),周長2800多米(mi)(mi)(mi),高6.5一10米(mi)(mi)(mi),寬8.5一18米(mi)(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)外皮砌磚,內為夯土。宋代的城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)開四門(men):東曰宋崇、西曰鎮南(nan)、南(nan)曰端溪、北(bei)曰朝(chao)天。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)之(zhi)(zhi)上各有(you)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)樓1座,四門(men)之(zhi)(zhi)外有(you)甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)四角(jiao)各有(you)角(jiao)樓1座,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外還有(you)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河。明清兩(liang)代歷經近20次修聾。
肇(zhao)慶古城墻始于宋朝建成,并投入(ru)軍事使用(yong),在(zai)明朝、清朝兩代歷經近(jin)20次修(xiu)聾。期(qi)間雷雹洪災,風吹雨打,然而主體保(bao)持完好。
中華民國十三年(nian)至十五年(nian)(1924-1926年(nian)),城(cheng)墻上的城(cheng)門樓(lou)、角樓(lou)、雉堞、甕城(cheng)被(bei)全部(bu)拆毀,用以填塞城(cheng)
門(men)和(he)護城河(he)以利交通,使城墻遭到(dao)極(ji)大的破壞。
1924年-1926年,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻上(shang)的城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)樓、角樓、雉堞、甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)被全部拆毀(hui),用以(yi)填塞城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)和護(hu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河以(yi)利交通(tong),使城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻遭到極(ji)大(da)的破(po)壞。
1987年以后,肇慶(qing)市政府為保護名城的標(biao)志性建筑(zhu),曾多次撥專款搶修北(bei)(bei)段(duan)城墻(qiang)(qiang),恢(hui)復了(le)"朝天(tian)門"、墩臺和雉堞,并(bing)重建了(le)披云樓,使肇慶(qing)古城墻(qiang)(qiang)得以重現(xian)。但(dan)到今天(tian),宋城墻(qiang)(qiang)除了(le)北(bei)(bei)側一段(duan),四周仍處在(zai)(zai)后世(shi)建筑(zhu)的包圍之中。如何使城墻(qiang)(qiang)擺脫包圍,恢(hui)復本來面目。肇慶(qing)市有(you)關部門在(zai)(zai)開通(tong)北(bei)(bei)側宋城一路以后,又投入巨資(zi)建設(she)宋城二路,使之與宋城一路連接,將北(bei)(bei)側首先展現(xian)給世(shi)人。
1987年至于1996年間,肇(zhao)(zhao)慶(qing)市(shi)人民政府為(wei)保(bao)護名城的(de)標志(zhi)性建(jian)筑,發(fa)展旅游事業,曾(ceng)多(duo)次撥專款搶修北(bei)(bei)段城墻(qiang),本著“整(zheng)舊(jiu)如舊(jiu)”、“恢復原貌(mao)”的(de)修繕(shan)原則,恢復“朝天門(men)”、墩臺和(he)雉堞,并重建(jian)了披云樓,使(shi)肇(zhao)(zhao)慶(qing)古城墻(qiang)得以(yi)重現,肇(zhao)(zhao)慶(qing)國家歷史(shi)文化(hua)名城得以(yi)再度輝煌(huang)。其中(zhong)歷史(shi)價值(zhi)較高(gao)的(de)是宋(song)城路一(yi)帶城墻(qiang)的(de)北(bei)(bei)段,在其內部(bu)為(wei)廣東肇(zhao)(zhao)慶(qing)中(zhong)學初(chu)中(zhong)部(bu)和(he)肇(zhao)(zhao)慶(qing)市(shi)第(di)一(yi)人民醫院舊(jiu)址。
解(jie)放后(hou),人民(min)政府(fu)依法保護(hu)和分期維修城(cheng)(cheng)墻,逐步整治周邊環境(jing),使其(qi)雄姿(zi)再現。它(ta)是歷史文化名城(cheng)(cheng)肇慶較具標志性的建筑,1989年被廣東(dong)省人民(min)政府(fu)公(gong)(gong)布為(wei)省重點文物保護(hu)單位,2001年被國(guo)務(wu)院公(gong)(gong)布為(wei)全國(guo)重點文物保護(hu)單位。