肇慶古城墻蜿蜒(yan)2800多米,巍然屹立,位于城墻西(xi)北(bei)段(duan)最高處的(de)披云(yun)樓高高聳立。青磚壘成(cheng)的(de)斑駁城墻和鉆出墻縫的(de)頑強(qiang)小草,向人們(men)訴說著千(qian)年的(de)歷史滄桑(sang)和這個(ge)國家級(ji)歷史文(wen)化名城的(de)變遷。
宋代(dai)的(de)(de)肇慶古城(cheng)墻,其城(cheng)墻一共(gong)開(kai)有四門(men):東曰(yue)(yue)宋崇、西曰(yue)(yue)鎮西、南曰(yue)(yue)端溪、北曰(yue)(yue)朝天。因此(ci)在(zai)城(cheng)墻的(de)(de)周邊有四個名稱分別為“東門(men)”“西門(men)”“南門(men)”“北門(men)”的(de)(de)公共(gong)汽車站。
城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)之上各有(you)(you)城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)樓1座,四門(men)(men)之外有(you)(you)甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)四角各有(you)(you)角樓1座,城(cheng)(cheng)外還有(you)(you)護城(cheng)(cheng)河。明成化五年(1469年),知府李璲增厚了部(bu)分城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang),并親自題書四門(men)(men)石匾(bian)額,改東門(men)(men)曰(yue)慶云、西(xi)門(men)(men)曰(yue)景星、南門(men)(men)曰(yue)南薰、北門(men)(men)曰(yue)朝天。
現(xian)古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)周長2801.2米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),其(qi)(qi)中東(dong)(dong)段(duan)403.4米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、西(xi)段(duan)376.9米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、南(nan)(nan)段(duan)992.3米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、北(bei)段(duan)1028.6米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)寬8米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)至(zhi)18米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),兩(liang)邊砌磚(zhuan)(zhuan),中間(jian)填土,磚(zhuan)(zhuan)墻(qiang)厚(hou)60厘米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)至(zhi)120厘米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)外圍(wei)有28個突出的敵(di)臺(tai)(tai)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)磚(zhuan)(zhuan)有9種(zhong)不同的規格(ge),是(shi)歷(li)史上多次修(xiu)(xiu)葺(qi)(qi)的見證。當時為御(yu)敵(di)兵(bing),筑(zhu)(zhu)土墻(qiang),規模“僅容廨宇(yu)”。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)歷(li)代有擴大(da)和(he)修(xiu)(xiu)整(zheng)。宋(song)政和(he)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1113年(nian)(nian)(nian)),知州鄭敦義將(jiang)土城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)擴大(da),筑(zhu)(zhu)為磚(zhuan)(zhuan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),開4門(men)(men),東(dong)(dong)曰宋(song)崇,西(xi)曰鎮南(nan)(nan),南(nan)(nan)曰端溪,北(bei)曰朝天(tian)(tian)。4門(men)(men)之(zhi)外各(ge)有半月(yue)(yue)形子城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),稱月(yue)(yue)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。月(yue)(yue)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)各(ge)開一門(men)(men),稱廓門(men)(men),月(yue)(yue)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)之(zhi)上各(ge)有小樓(lou)一座(zuo)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)四(si)角亦各(ge)有角樓(lou)一座(zuo),北(bei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)西(xi)段(duan)有披云樓(lou),南(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)東(dong)(dong)段(duan)有文昌閣。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)上有空心炮(pao)臺(tai)(tai)6座(zuo),小炮(pao)臺(tai)(tai)17座(zuo),兵(bing)房13間(jian),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外有濠(hao)(hao)塹,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)有內(nei)濠(hao)(hao)。明(ming)洪武元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1368年(nian)(nian)(nian)),由江西(xi)行省郎中攝府事黃德(de)明(ming)主持了(le)首次修(xiu)(xiu)葺(qi)(qi)。明(ming)成化年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian),又先(xian)后6次修(xiu)(xiu)葺(qi)(qi),增加了(le)串樓(lou)810間(jian),加厚(hou)了(le)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)厚(hou)度,并刻了(le)四(si)門(men)(men)石(shi)匾額,東(dong)(dong)門(men)(men)曰慶(qing)云、西(xi)門(men)(men)曰景(jing)星、南(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)曰南(nan)(nan)薰、北(bei)門(men)(men)曰朝天(tian)(tian)。明(ming)清以來,先(xian)后10多次修(xiu)(xiu)整(zheng),其(qi)(qi)中規模較(jiao)大(da)的有:崇禎十(shi)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1614年(nian)(nian)(nian)),肇慶(qing)府總(zong)督張鏡心將(jiang)墻(qiang)體增高3.5尺,改建(jian)4門(men)(men)月(yue)(yue)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。清順治八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1651年(nian)(nian)(nian)),總(zong)兵(bing)許爾(er)顯,知府張之(zhi)璧增建(jian)炮(pao)臺(tai)(tai)6座(zuo),窩鋪148間(jian),水(shui)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)炮(pao)臺(tai)(tai)2所,拆除城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)附近的房屋,增修(xiu)(xiu)樓(lou)堞等。
肇(zhao)慶古城(cheng)墻始建于宋(song)皇佑年中(1053年)。雖經過953年的風風雨(yu)雨(yu),但(dan)古城(cheng)墻位置與周長始終未變。像肇(zhao)慶古城(cheng)墻這樣主體和城(cheng)周基本完整的宋(song)代磚城(cheng)墻,是廣東僅(jin)有,全國極少(shao)見(jian)的。
史載廣西(xi)(xi)壯(zhuang)族首領儂(nong)智高(gao)反宋,兵鋒直逼(bi)端州(zhou)(zhou),端州(zhou)(zhou)太守(shou)(shou)(shou)丁(ding)寶(bao)臣因無城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)防守(shou)(shou)(shou),棄城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)逃跑(pao),被(bei)朝(chao)廷撤職。狄青平(ping)定儂(nong)智高(gao)后(hou)(1053年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),肇慶(qing)始筑(zhu)土(tu)(tu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)。宋政和(he)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1113年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))郡守(shou)(shou)(shou)鄭敦(dun)義將土(tu)(tu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)擴大(da),筑(zhu)為磚城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),開(kai)四(si)門(men)(men)(men):東曰"宋崇",西(xi)(xi)曰"鎮西(xi)(xi)",南(nan)曰"端溪(xi)",北曰"朝(chao)天"。宋城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)建(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)之后(hou),經歷250多年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),到(dao)明洪(hong)武元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1368年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))才作(zuo)首次修葺(qi)。明成(cheng)(cheng)化元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1465年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至清(qing)同(tong)治(zhi)十一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)的407年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(jian),先后(hou)修葺(qi)了(le)(le)20次,其(qi)中(zhong)成(cheng)(cheng)化十六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1480年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))知(zhi)府(fu)(fu)李在(zai)披云樓護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)濠的近濠處增建(jian)了(le)(le)樓下(xia)磚城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)堵,加大(da)了(le)(le)部分城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)的厚度。并且刻(ke)了(le)(le)四(si)門(men)(men)(men)的石匾額,改東門(men)(men)(men)為"慶(qing)云",西(xi)(xi)門(men)(men)(men)為"景星",南(nan)門(men)(men)(men)為"南(nan)薰",北門(men)(men)(men)仍(reng)為"朝(chao)天"。崇禎十四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1641年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))肇慶(qing)府(fu)(fu)總督張(zhang)鏡心主持,對古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)作(zuo)了(le)(le)更大(da)規模(mo)的修葺(qi),把城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)增高(gao)了(le)(le)3尺(chi)5寸(cun),使(shi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)之高(gao)度增至2丈5尺(chi)5寸(cun)。同(tong)時,改建(jian)了(le)(le)四(si)門(men)(men)(men)的月城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),增筑(zhu)了(le)(le)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)(men)馬路。清(qing)代,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)多次在(zai)戰火中(zhong)損毀,為加強(qiang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)池的防衛。清(qing)順(shun)治(zhi)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1651年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))總兵許爾顯、知(zhi)府(fu)(fu)張(zhang)之璧在(zai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)上增建(jian)炮(pao)臺(tai)6座、窩鋪148間(jian)(jian)、水(shui)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)炮(pao)臺(tai)2所,拆(chai)除離城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)4尺(chi)以內的房(fang)屋,增置修葺(qi)樓堞。此后(hou)直至民國(guo)初年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)池保持完好(hao)。
1915年,乙卯洪(hong)(hong)災(zai),城(cheng)垣抵御(yu)了洪(hong)(hong)災(zai),使(shi)城(cheng)內仍安然無(wu)恙。但城(cheng)垣因此受(shou)到損害。1916年,肇(zhao)陽(yang)羅鎮(zhen)守使(shi)李耀漢即撥(bo)款修(xiu)葺城(cheng)墻(qiang),浚治東門(men)外的濠道。從1924年至1926年,將城(cheng)墻(qiang)上(shang)的城(cheng)門(men)樓(lou)(lou)、雉角樓(lou)(lou)、文昌閣(ge)、月(yue)城(cheng)炮臺(tai),城(cheng)墻(qiang)除披(pi)云樓(lou)(lou)段外全部拆低了約7市(shi)尺(chi),并填塞城(cheng)門(men),修(xiu)成(cheng)斜坡以利(li)交通。
宋城內歷史上曾有(you)(you)過端(duan)州府(fu)衙、兩(liang)廣總督府(fu)、端(duan)溪書院、校(xiao)場(chang)、廣濟倉和(he)商業街市等。按照我市名城保護(hu)規(gui)劃(hua)和(he)文化建設(she)規(gui)劃(hua),對古(gu)城墻將分期進行整體恢復(fu)和(he)保護(hu)。與此(ci)同時,對宋城內和(he)周邊地區,將加大整治力度,保護(hu)好并逐步恢復(fu)有(you)(you)關(guan)文物遺址。
肇(zhao)慶"宋文化"景點之肇(zhao)慶古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang),端(duan)州區的(de)古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang),始建于(yu)宋政(zheng)和三年(1113年),周長2800多米,高6.5一10米,寬8.5一18米。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)外(wai)皮砌磚,內為(wei)夯土。宋代的(de)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)開四(si)門(men):東曰(yue)宋崇、西曰(yue)鎮(zhen)南、南曰(yue)端(duan)溪、北曰(yue)朝天。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)之上各有城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)樓1座,四(si)門(men)之外(wai)有甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)四(si)角(jiao)各有角(jiao)樓1座,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外(wai)還有護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河。明清兩代歷(li)經近(jin)20次修聾。
肇慶古城(cheng)墻始于宋(song)朝建成,并投入軍事使(shi)用(yong),在明朝、清朝兩代(dai)歷(li)經(jing)近20次(ci)修聾(long)。期間(jian)雷雹(bao)洪災(zai),風(feng)吹雨打,然(ran)而主(zhu)體保持完(wan)好(hao)。
中華民(min)國(guo)十三年(nian)至十五(wu)年(nian)(1924-1926年(nian)),城(cheng)墻(qiang)上的城(cheng)門樓、角樓、雉堞、甕城(cheng)被全(quan)部拆毀,用以填塞城(cheng)
門和護城河以利交通(tong),使城墻遭到極大的破壞。
1924年-1926年,城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)上的(de)城(cheng)(cheng)門樓、角樓、雉堞、甕城(cheng)(cheng)被全部(bu)拆毀(hui),用以填塞城(cheng)(cheng)門和(he)護(hu)城(cheng)(cheng)河以利交通,使城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)遭到極(ji)大的(de)破(po)壞。
1987年以(yi)(yi)后(hou)(hou),肇慶(qing)市政府為保護名(ming)城的標志性建筑(zhu),曾多(duo)次撥專(zhuan)款搶修(xiu)北段城墻,恢復了"朝天(tian)(tian)門"、墩臺和(he)雉堞,并重(zhong)建了披云樓(lou),使肇慶(qing)古(gu)城墻得以(yi)(yi)重(zhong)現。但到今天(tian)(tian),宋城墻除了北側一段,四(si)周仍(reng)處(chu)在(zai)后(hou)(hou)世建筑(zhu)的包圍之中。如何使城墻擺(bai)脫(tuo)包圍,恢復本來面目(mu)。肇慶(qing)市有關部門在(zai)開通北側宋城一路(lu)以(yi)(yi)后(hou)(hou),又(you)投入巨資建設宋城二路(lu),使之與宋城一路(lu)連接(jie),將北側首先(xian)展現給世人(ren)。
1987年(nian)至于1996年(nian)間,肇(zhao)(zhao)慶(qing)市人(ren)民(min)政府(fu)為(wei)保護名城的標志性建筑,發展(zhan)旅游事業,曾多(duo)次撥(bo)專款搶修(xiu)北段城墻(qiang)(qiang),本(ben)著(zhu)“整舊如舊”、“恢復原(yuan)貌”的修(xiu)繕原(yuan)則,恢復“朝(chao)天門”、墩臺和(he)雉堞(die),并重(zhong)建了(le)披云樓,使肇(zhao)(zhao)慶(qing)古城墻(qiang)(qiang)得以(yi)重(zhong)現,肇(zhao)(zhao)慶(qing)國家(jia)歷史文化名城得以(yi)再(zai)度輝(hui)煌。其(qi)中歷史價值(zhi)較高(gao)的是宋城路一帶城墻(qiang)(qiang)的北段,在其(qi)內部為(wei)廣東肇(zhao)(zhao)慶(qing)中學初中部和(he)肇(zhao)(zhao)慶(qing)市第(di)一人(ren)民(min)醫院舊址。
解放(fang)后,人(ren)民政(zheng)府(fu)依法保護(hu)(hu)和分期維修(xiu)城(cheng)墻,逐步整治周邊(bian)環(huan)境,使其雄姿再現。它(ta)是(shi)歷史文化名城(cheng)肇慶較具標志性的建(jian)筑,1989年被(bei)廣(guang)東省人(ren)民政(zheng)府(fu)公(gong)布為(wei)(wei)省重(zhong)點文物保護(hu)(hu)單(dan)位,2001年被(bei)國(guo)務院(yuan)公(gong)布為(wei)(wei)全國(guo)重(zhong)點文物保護(hu)(hu)單(dan)位。