Fuerte de San Damián - Ribadeo, Lugo, Galicia, España
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Ariberna
N 43° 32.786 W 007° 02.176
29T E 658636 N 4823371
The Fort of San Damián , also known as Castillo de San Damian , is a fortress located in the Galician municipality of Ribadeo . Located on the banks of the Ría de Ribadeo , its function was always to defend it against possible attacks from the sea.
Waymark Code: WM17NB8
Location: Galicia, Spain
Date Posted: 03/13/2023
Views: 0
History
The original castle was built at the beginning of the 17th century , being documented at least in 1624, by the Marquis of Cerralbo , on the land occupied by the so-called Torre Nova , a 16th- century building .
Later, fearing an attack by the French , the cannons were withdrawn and the fort was abandoned, being reduced to ruins in 1719 by the English . A new fort designed by the engineers Vergel and Arrol was built on these ruins in the mid- 18th century. They arranged for this construction the funds provided by the Royal Treasury and also by the parishes of Arante, Covelas, Vilaselán and Ove, as well as those donated by the towns of Ribadeo and Mondoñedo , the latter, capital of the corresponding province at that time. .
In the years 1778-1779 the building that it presents today was built, according to documentation in the General Archive of Simancas. At that time, the cannons were of large caliber (some of bronze ) and brought from Seville . Their care was the responsibility of the soldiers and neighbors, who had to take turns to keep watch. It was reformed again in 1774, however, it was partially destroyed during the War of Independence by the French in 1809. Later it was handed over to the town hall, thus taking charge of its restoration.
Today it is used as an Exhibition Hall, and constitutes the only example of military architecture in Ribadeo.
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