The most impregnable fortress in the world (photo)

The most impregnable fortress in the world in most people is associated with Troy, which, besieged by a huge army, was taken only for the 10th year of the siege and only with the help of cunning - the Trojan horse.

The higher, the safer

What should be an impregnable stronghold? What are the requirements for it? It can easily be assumed that it should be on an elevation, because from its walls in this case it is easier to survey the surrounding terrain and notice the approach of the enemy. Yes, and climb the steepness of the enemy is both more difficult and dangerous. Inaccessibility, obviously, implies not only strong and high walls, but also possible fortifications on their way to them.

The main requirement is inaccessibility

In the olden days, almost every impregnable fortress was surrounded, if not by a river (preferably from both sides, like the Moscow Kremlin or Notre Dame), then necessarily a moat full of water. Sometimes inventive owners of castles let in dangerous animals for life, for example crocodiles, or at the bottom of the ditch a "wolf's pit" of sharpened stakes was arranged. Where the ditch was dug, there was usually always an earthen rampart, which, as a rule, was poured in front of a water obstacle. The place in front of the castle must be deserted, and the vegetation - low.

Fortification Tricks

The fortress was built in order to protect the hosts from the attack. To be really unapproachable and withstand many months of siege, like Mortan Castle (6 months), it had to have its own water source and, of course, food supplies. An impregnable fortress was created taking into account the many tricks and subtleties of fortification art. So, the crest of the shaft was often supplied with a palisade - a palisade of sharpened stakes. The road leading to the castle was laid in such a way that the attackers had a right side open, barefaced with a shield. Even the bottom of the moat had a definite shape - V or U-shaped. The moat could be either transverse or crescent - it always walked along the wall of the fortress. The cunnings used by the builders made it impossible to dig. To do this, most of the fortresses were erected on rocky or rocky ground.

A quiet life could provide only the citadel

Each impregnable fortress was created for some specific purpose. They all refer to the Middle Ages, to an era when there was still no artillery, and powerful walls could protect the master. In those distant times, the states were weak and could not protect individual feudal lords, who were raided not only by foreign enemies, but also by envious neighbors.

For each era is characterized by its methods of warfare, ways of attack and defense. And when the castles were erected, the owner, who could afford such a construction, naturally applied the latest achievements of fortification art.

Basis of the foundations - the bridge and the walls

A big role in the defense of the castle was played by a bridge connecting the inhabitants of the fortress with the outside world. As a rule, it was either retractable or lifting. The impenetrable fortress had hard-to-overcome walls, which, as a rule, were erected on a sloping basement with a deep foundation. They are one of the most important reasons for the inaccessibility of a fortress or a castle. And it's not just the height, width and material of which the walls are made. Their design played a huge role. After all, inside each meter of the fortress was built taking into account the conduct of battle with the conquered conquerors. Everything was calculated in such a way that the defenders were as long as possible invulnerable, and the attackers - all the time in sight.

San Leo

An interesting fact is that the impregnable fortresses of the world, emerging on different continents, were built according to the same rules - an open area in front of a castle standing at a considerable height, a rampart, a ditch, walls with loopholes, tanks with tar and so on. The sanctity of inaccessibility can fully serve as the fortress of San Leo (Saint Lion, Italy). It stands on a steep high rock, located at the confluence of two rivers - San Marino and Marecchia. Leads to her the only narrow road cut through the rock. This mentioned Dante in the "Divine Comedy" citadel was known and as one of the most eerie prisons of the Vatican. In it he spent the last years of his life Count Cagliostro. In the cellars of the fortress, he died.

Valetta

Most often, such fortifications can not be taken by storm, but only by cunning. The most impregnable stronghold is the fortress of Valletta, the capital of Malta. It began to be built as a symbol of the invincibility of the Order of the Knights, after the troops of Suleiman the Great could not take Malta (in 1566) and retreated. Built according to all the rules, the fortress is recognized as the most impregnable in the world, primarily because of the shape and location of its bastions, which give the highest defensive effect.

Indian citadel

The list of "The most impregnable fortresses in the world" includes the unique fort of Janjira, standing right in the sea near the coast of India. It was built over 20 years. Twelve-meter-high walls, standing on 22 arches, going deep, made the fortress unassailable for enemies for 200 years. The fort itself is about 5 hundred years old. Impetuous it did and powerful artillery, some fragments of which exist today. The impossibility of undermining, the existence of a unique freshwater well in the center of the island, all contributed to the fact that the defenders could hold positions for a long time.

"Rather, the sky will fall to the ground ..."

Impossible Turkish fortress Izmail fell due to the generational genius of AV Suvorov. This brilliant victory of Russian arms, when in violation of all laws of the attackers killed an order of magnitude less than those besieged, the anthem "Thunder of victory, be heard!" Was dedicated. The fortress, surrounded by a high rampart, followed by a wide and deep (10.5 m) ditch, which had 11 bastions with 260 guns placed in them, could not be taken by NV Repin or I. V to garrison in 35 thousand people Gudovich, and PS Potemkin. AV Suvorov for 6 days was preparing for the assault, then sent an ultimatum to the commandant of the fortress with the demand to surrender within 24 hours voluntarily, which he received a haughty response. For two days, the artillery preparation for the assault was over, which ended 2 hours before its inception. After 8 hours the fortress fell. The victory was so brilliant and incredible that even now there are Russophobes, who call the assault "performance." Despite everything, the capture of Ishmael will remain in history as one of the glorious pages of Russian history.

Once unapproachable, but now actively visited

As noted above, inaccessible castles and fortresses are scattered all over the world. The most famous is Pingyao (China), built in 827-782. BC and existing to this day, and in good condition. The visibility of impregnability is also the fortress Arg-e Bam (Iran), built in 500 AD, and standing on the cliffs of the Palais Pena in Portugal.

Castles of the White Heron in Japan, Frontenac in Canada, Chenonceau in France, Hohenwerfen in Austria and some others are among the twenty most impregnable fortresses in the world. The history of each of them is incredibly interesting, and each of them is unusually beautiful and unique.