Mountain fort in Macau
The mountain fort in Macau stands out from the rest of the city's attractions. Macau is primarily known to tourists as a city with a huge number of casinos, bars, restaurants and various exclusive and expensive vacation spots. But there are also historical sites here that deserve special attention. The fort is a cultural monument of the city.
History of creation
The mountain fort in Macau is located on one of the highest points of the city, Mount Macau, and was built in 1626. This location was not chosen by chance, as the mountain served as an excellent viewing point for the surrounding areas, the sea and the bay. Initially, such forts served as defensive structures and served as points of defense against the Dutch, who constantly attacked the city and waged war with Portugal, which at that time owned the modern city of Macau.
In order to protect their possessions, the Portuguese actively built forts and bastions in the city, with which they held back attacks on the city from the sea. The construction of the mountain fort in Macau lasted about 10 years. The fort served as an excellent place of defense and perfectly reflected all attacks of enemies from the sea, therefore, outbuildings and barracks were actively built here, in which the garrison of the city was located. The purpose of the fort changed - they stopped attacking the city, and the fort was transformed into a cultural monument. It should be noted that it has been preserved in very good condition to this day.
Architectural features
As already mentioned, the mountain fort in Macau is located on top of a hill and rises 50 meters relative to sea level. The shape of the photo is trapezoidal, the walls were made of thick blocks, the thickness of which is 10 meters. The corners of the fort, and there are four of them, are protected by huge bastions, on which special platforms are located - places where guns are installed. All guns face the sea and were actively used to fight the Dutch.
Other buildings of the mountain fort in Macau have been preserved in their original form - barracks, outbuildings, warehouses, and an arsenal with weapons. All these buildings are free to enter. Between these buildings there is a beautiful park with its own unique plants. There is also a Macau Museum inside the fort, which consists of several halls. The museum has a collection of Macau's history, including various old objects and manuscripts. There is also a hall dedicated to the traditions of the indigenous people of Macau. The museum's collection is very interesting - clothes, tools, household items, as well as various furniture of the indigenous population are collected in one place.
In addition, many tourists like to visit the observation deck of the fort, which offers a magnificent view of Macau and the city's seashore, where you can take beautiful photos and keep your memory for life. The mountain fort in Macau is a piece of the history of this amazing city. The original history of the city's indigenous population and the unique architecture of the 17th century have been preserved here. Such places are cultural monuments and are carefully guarded and protected by the city authorities. The place is recommended for tourists to visit.
