地理環境
蔚州(zhou)玉(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)屬(shu)全國重點文物保護(hu)單位,坐(zuo)落于河北蔚州(zhou)北城墻上。玉(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)高峻(jun)而雄偉,整(zheng)個樓閣(ge)(ge)分(fen)前(qian)(qian)后兩院(yuan)(yuan),前(qian)(qian)院(yuan)(yuan)由(you)天王殿(dian)(dian)和15間禪房(fang)組成。后院(yuan)(yuan)正面(mian)為(wei)玉(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)大殿(dian)(dian),殿(dian)(dian)內正面(mian)為(wei)玉(yu)皇(huang)(huang)大帝塑像,兩側墻壁上為(wei)洞神壁畫,大殿(dian)(dian)用柱36根,柱上有(you)(you)精美的斗拱。玉(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)為(wei)重檐歇(xie)山琉璃(li)瓦頂,外觀三層(ceng),實為(wei)兩層(ceng)。玉(yu)皇(huang)(huang)閣(ge)(ge)大殿(dian)(dian)前(qian)(qian)左(zuo)有(you)(you)鐘樓,右有(you)(you)鼓(gu)樓。
發展歷史
玉(yu)皇(huang)閣(ge)始建于明洪武十(shi)年(nian)(1377年(nian)),歷代屢(lv)次(ci)修(xiu)整,現存(cun)重修(xiu)碑7塊。玉(yu)皇(huang)閣(ge)名(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)敬奉(feng)玉(yu)皇(huang)大(da)(da)帝(di),實(shi)則(ze)為(wei)(wei)(wei)防(fang)備(bei)外來(lai)之(zhi)敵。蔚州城(cheng)始建于南(nan)北(bei)(bei)朝北(bei)(bei)周大(da)(da)象二年(nian)(580年(nian)),城(cheng)周七里(li)十(shi)三步,城(cheng)高(gao)四(si)丈,東為(wei)(wei)(wei)安定(ding)門,南(nan)為(wei)(wei)(wei)景仙門,西(xi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)清遠(yuan)門,惟北(bei)(bei)城(cheng)墻未(wei)開城(cheng)門,而建有玉(yu)皇(huang)閣(ge)一座。蔚州城(cheng)不設北(bei)(bei)門鋪(pu)路。
這與明(ming)初(chu)防(fang)御元朝殘(can)余(yu)勢(shi)力(li)騷(sao)擾(rao)的大形(xing)勢(shi)相適應。登臨玉(yu)皇(huang)閣可憑(ping)檻(jian)眺(tiao)望(wang)塞外大好風光(guang),為歷代文人墨客(ke)游覽勝地。