The most impregnable fortresses in the history of mankind. Underground complex in Cheyenne Mountain. Monastery of St. George Khozevita, Israel

Man is so constituted that he cannot live for a long time without war. The reasons for the contention can be different: the seizure of new territories, dissatisfaction with the existing system, religious beliefs. For thousands of years, mankind has been building defensive structures - impregnable fortresses, which served as an insurmountable barrier in the path of the enemy.

The principle of construction among different peoples is similar: a place was chosen that was difficult to even approach, the paths to it were blocked by swamps, stormy rivers or steep mountain slopes. In the heart of the castle was the citadel, surrounded by a deep moat with water, it was possible to get inside only by suspension bridge.

The outer walls were made of stone, their thickness could reach up to ten meters. Galleries ran inside the walls, along the perimeter there were towers from which it was convenient to monitor the territory and, if necessary, fire. Under the hill, on which fortresses were usually built, they dug a whole network of underground passages, allowing you to move both inside the castle and leave it unnoticed.

The most impregnable fortresses in the world were more often captured by military cunning, but the siege and assault have always been troublesome.

Krak des Chevaliers (Syria)

Built in the 11th century by the Hospitallers, this military building remained for a long time an insurmountable obstacle for numerous Turkic tribes, a reliable defense of the borders of the Holy Land. Nomads tried more than once to capture Krak des Chevaliers, but in vain: the impregnable fortress always gave a reliable rebuff.

Only in 1271, the gates of the citadel were opened to the enemy, when the soldiers defending it received a fake letter from their commander with an order to surrender.

In 2013, this impregnable fortress was badly damaged by artillery shelling during military operations in Syria.

Mont Saint Michel (France)

The grandiose castle-island, existing since 709, today is world heritage and protected by UNESCO. Located in the north-west of France, it is rightfully considered one of the main attractions of this country.

I would like to believe that one day people will learn to live in peace and harmony, without wars and bloodshed, because otherwise humanity will face an unenviable end.

During the defense, the architecture of the fortress played a decisive role. Location, walls, equipment - all this determined how successful the assault would be, and whether it was worth taking at all.

Athenian long walls

After the victory in the Greco-Persian wars, Athens began to flourish. To protect against an external enemy, a huge policy was covered by a fortress wall, which not only surrounded the city, but also protected the path to the main sea ​​gate Athens - the port of Piraeus. Built in a short time, the long walls stretched for six kilometers. Since in the 5th century BC Athens was supplied with bread from the colonies of the Northern Black Sea region, it was strategically important to preserve the possibility of supplying the huge city by sea. There was no external threat to Greece at that time, most of the Greek policies had much smaller armies than Athens, and the main probable enemy of the Athenians - the Spartans - were invincible in a field battle, but they did not know how to take fortresses. Therefore, Athens theoretically turned into an impregnable fortress, capable of withstanding many years of siege, with no prospects for the enemy to capture the city. In fact, it turned out that way - to defeat Athens, Sparta had to build a fleet, and only after sea ​​routes were blocked, Athens was forced to capitulate. Under the terms of the peace, the inhabitants of the city were forced to destroy the walls, which were subsequently restored and finally destroyed only in the Roman era.

Castle Krak des Chevaliers

In the Middle Ages, when small armies consisting of several tens, hundreds and extremely rarely thousands of people fought against each other, powerful stone walls surrounded by a moat were practically impregnable. Prolonged sieges, which required enormous exertion of forces, were also practiced extremely rarely. Only in cinema and a number of works of fiction can one find a dashing description of the assault medieval castle. In reality, this task is difficult and extremely complex. One of the most powerful fortresses of the Crusaders in the territory of modern Syria was the castle of Krak des Chevaliers. Through the efforts of the Order of the Hospitallers, a wall was erected with a thickness of 3 to 30 meters, reinforced with seven towers. In the 13th century, the castle had a garrison of up to 2000 people and a huge amount of supplies that made it possible to withstand a long siege. Krak des Chevaliers was virtually impregnable, repeatedly repulsing the onslaught of the enemy .. He was besieged more than once, but always unsuccessfully. Only in 1271 the fortress was taken, however, not by storm, but only with the help of military cunning.

San Elmo. Malta

By the middle of the 16th century, the stronghold of the Knights of Malta was an impressive fortress. It was surrounded by a system of fortress walls with bastions, and the batteries were able to cross fire, causing significant damage to the attackers. To destroy the fortress, it was necessary to bombard it systematically with artillery fire. The Maltese fleet was safely hidden in the inner bay behind the line defensive structures the city of Borgo. The narrow entrance to the bay was blocked by a massive chain. In 1565, when the Turks attempted to capture the fortress, the garrison consisted of 540 knights, 1,300 hired soldiers, 4,000 sailors and several hundred residents of Malta. The siege army of the Turks numbered up to 40 thousand people. During the fighting, the Turks, at the cost of colossal losses, managed to take Fort San Elmo, but later they had to abandon attempts to storm other fortifications of the fortress and lift the siege.

Shusha

The security of a fortress does not always depend on the massiveness of its walls and defensive structures. A favorable position can nullify any numerical superiority of the siege army. For example, as in the case of the Shusha fortress in Karabakh, which was defended by Russian troops in 1826. The citadel, erected almost on sheer cliffs, was virtually impregnable. The only way to the fortress was a winding path, which was perfectly shot from the fortress, and two guns mounted along it could repulse any attempt to approach the gates with grapeshot. In 1826, Shusha withstood a 48-day siege by a 35,000-strong Persian army. Two assault attempts were repulsed with huge losses for the besiegers. The peculiarities of the position of the fortress did not allow the enemy to completely block the tiny fortress, which received food from the outside. It is noteworthy that during the siege the garrison of the fortress lost only 12 people killed and 16 missing.

Bobruisk fortress

By the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, the fortress of Bobruisk was considered new and one of the strongest on the western frontiers. Russian Empire. The main defensive line of the fortress included 8 bastions. The four thousandth garrison was armed with 337 guns, huge stocks of gunpowder and food. The enemy could never be sure of the success of a frontal assault, and a long siege meant that the fortress was fulfilling its main role - to delay the enemy and gain time. IN Patriotic War In 1812, the Bobruisk fortress withstood a months-long blockade, being in the deep rear of the Napoleonic army throughout the war. The 16,000-strong Polish detachment that carried out the siege, after several unsuccessful clashes, limited itself only to the blockade of the Bobruisk fortress, leaving attempts to storm.

The main task of the builders of ancient fortresses, castles and monasteries is to make them as safe as possible, the least accessible to enemies. They were built high up in highlands, in hard-to-reach areas, they could only be reached with the help of experienced guides. The more tempting and attractive these buildings are today, luring tourists with their secrets and beauties.

Slovenia, Bled castle. Among the stunning landscapes created by the dense forests that stretch around Lake Bled, on one of the rocky cliffs that simply break into the lake surface, stands the castle of the same name, built in 1004. Its architectural composition changed under the influence of epochs. So in the Middle Ages, towers and powerful fortification walls were completed. The Romanesque style tower is considered to be the oldest. From her to old times patrolled the surrounding area. The stone staircase leading to the entrance can still only be found with the help of a guide. Today the castle houses historical Museum, many rooms can be explored with a guide or on your own. Tourists especially like to come to the castle at sunset, when it is illuminated by lanterns, creating an atmosphere conducive to the play of the imagination.

Czech Republic, Trosky fortress. One of the most mysterious, which was in a long desolation, the Trosky fortress, located in the vicinity of Prague, is open to the public. Numerous fires have not left any documents testifying to its construction. The first mention of the fortress dates back to the 14th century, however, according to scientists, it is much older. Volcanic rocks were used in its construction, since it is located on the rocks between two extinct volcanoes. The fortress gained the greatest popularity in the 19th century, when Alois discovered it and became the owner. Its frequent guests were representatives of the creative elite, inspired by the views from the towers of the castle. Today, tourists can plunge into the world of antiquity by visiting old building and enjoy exceptionally picturesque views of its surroundings.

Italy, the city of Pitigliano. Whole old City preserved in Tuscany. It is still inhabited by a few people, mostly Jews. Therefore, sometimes Pitigliano is called "small Jerusalem". There is not a single modern building in it, the whole town is covered with the spirit of antiquity and history. The reason for such a long preservation of the settlement is due to the choice of the place of construction: its impregnability was ensured by the rocks, which are also its fortification walls. All houses and streets are literally hollowed out in the mountains, so at first glance it may seem. The main builders of the fortified city were the Etruscans, they tried to protect their lives from the invaders as much as possible. Today, a walk through the city of Pitigliano will turn into a journey into the past for you.

Germany, Liechtenstein Castle. In the German Alps, among the rocks and forests, a small but amazing beautiful building Liechtenstein Castle. At first glance, the question arises whether it is possible to climb this peak at all. The castle, built in the 13th century, stands on the most peaked rock. To get to it, lovers of antiquity need to overcome many stone steps, pass over the gorge on a suspension bridge. The castle was rebuilt many times. It acquired its modern imposing appearance during the time of Duke Wilhelm Urach. For those who are truly passionate about history and are not afraid to climb mountains, a bewitching picture of the nearby forests and mountains will open up.

Portugal, Pena Palace. This castle is a little over 150 years old. However, it looks like architectural structure middle ages. There was an ancient monastery in the rocky region of Rane, but it had long been abandoned, and nothing prevented King Fernando II from building it in 1840 majestic castle, around which a variety of plants still grow. for the sake of natural landscape and the interior decoration of the palace, many excursions come here.

Slovenia, Predjama Castle. A visit to the Predjama Castle, built in 1202, will take you back to the time of chivalry. Its impregnability is evidenced by the fact that excursions there are carried out accompanied by speleologists. You can only get there through top entry, V literally, above. Once there was another secret entrance, but over time it collapsed and its place is unknown. Moreover, tourists are allowed to come to the castle only from May to September. This is due to bats living in rocky openings. No noise is allowed for their peaceful winter sleep. The rest of the time the castle is open for visiting and holding historical holidays with jousting tournaments and banquets.

France, Saint-Michel d'Aiguil chapel. The small chapel built on top of a hill in small town France Le Puy-en-Velev 962. The initiator of the construction of the religious shrine was Bishop Puy, who decided to commemorate the return of one of the holy pilgrims, Michael. A steep stone staircase, consisting of 268 steps, leads to the chapel. Archaeologists periodically conduct research on a modest, but rich in secret area of ​​​​the building. And as you know from, all the finds are exhibited in the main chapel for everyone to see.

During the defense, the architecture of the fortress played a decisive role. Location, walls, equipment - all this determined how successful the assault would be and whether it was worth it at all.

Athenian long walls

Castle Krak des Chevaliers

San Elmo. Malta

Shusha

Bobruisk fortress

Most people associate the most impregnable fortress in the world with Troy, which, besieged by a huge army, was taken only in 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 citadel? What are the requirements for it? It can be easily assumed that it should be on a hill, because from its walls in this case it is easier to survey the surrounding area and notice the approach of the enemy.

Yes, and climbing the steepness of the enemy is both more difficult and more dangerous. Inaccessibility, obviously, implies not only strong and high walls, but also possible on the way to them.

The main requirement is inaccessibility

In the old days, almost every impregnable fortress was surrounded, if not by a river (preferably from two sides, like the Moscow Kremlin or Notre Dame), then by all means a moat filled with water. Sometimes inventive owners of castles allowed animals dangerous to human life, such as crocodiles, or a “wolf pit” of pointed stakes was arranged at the bottom of the moat. Where a ditch was dug, there was usually always an earthen rampart, which, as a rule, was poured in front of a water barrier. The place in front of the castle should be deserted and the vegetation low.

Fortification tricks

The fortress was built to protect the owners from attack. To be truly impregnable and withstand many months of sieges, such as Mortan Castle (6 months), it had to have its own source of water and, of course, food supplies. The impregnable fortress was created taking into account many tricks and subtleties of fortification art. So, the crest of the shaft was often supplied with a palisade - a palisade of pointed stakes. The road leading to the castle was laid in such a way that the attackers had an open right side, uncovered by a shield.

Even the bottom of the moat had certain form- V- or U-shaped. The ditch could be both transverse and sickle-shaped - it always went along the wall of the fortress. The tricks used by the builders made digging impossible. For this, most often fortresses were built on rocky or stone ground.

Only a citadel could provide a quiet life

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

Each era has its own methods of warfare, methods of attack and defense. And when building castles, the owner, who could afford such construction, naturally applied the latest achievements of fortification art.

Foundation of foundations - bridge and walls

The bridge connecting the inhabitants of the fortress with the outside world played an important role in protecting the castle. As a rule, it was either retractable or lifting. The impregnable fortress had walls that were difficult to overcome, which, as a rule, were erected on an inclined plinth with deep foundation. They are one of the most important reasons for the impregnability of a fortress or a castle. And it's not just the height, width and material from which the walls are made. Their design played a huge role. After all, even inside, every meter of the fortress was built taking into account the conduct of the battle with the conquerors who had broken through. Everything was calculated in such a way that the defenders were invulnerable for as long as possible, and the attackers were always 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 moat, walls with loopholes, containers with resin, and so on. The fortress of San Leo (Saint Lion, Italy) can fully serve as the embodiment of impregnability. She stands on a steep high rock located at the confluence of two rivers - San Marino and Marecchia. The only narrow road cut through the rock leads to it. This citadel, mentioned by Dante in The Divine Comedy, was also known as one of the most terrible prisons in the Vatican. Spent in it last years his life In the cellars of the fortress, he died.

Valletta

Most often, such fortifications cannot be taken by storm, but only by cunning. The fortress of Valletta is considered the most impregnable citadel. It began to be built as a symbol of the invincibility of the Order of the Knights, after the troops of Suleiman the Great failed to take Malta (in 1566) and retreated. Erected 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 Janjira Fort, standing right in the sea not far from the coast of India. It has been under construction for over 20 years. Twelve-meter walls, standing on 22 deep arches, made the fortress impregnable for enemies for 200 years. The fort itself is about 5 hundred years old.

The powerful artillery made it impregnable, some fragments of which still exist today. The impossibility of digging, the existence of a unique freshwater well in the center of the island - all this contributed to the fact that the defenders could hold positions for a long time.

“The sky will soon fall to the ground…”

The impregnable Turkish fortress of Izmail fell thanks to the military genius of A. V. Suvorov. This brilliant victory of the Russian arms, when, in violation of all the laws of the attackers, an order of magnitude fewer died than the besieged, the hymn "Thunder of victory, resound!" was dedicated. The fortress, surrounded by a high rampart, followed by a wide and deep (10.5 m) ditch, having 11 bastions with 260 guns placed in them, with a garrison of 35 thousand people, neither N. V. Repin nor I. V. Gudovich, nor P. S. Potemkin. A. V. Suvorov prepared for the assault for 6 days, then sent an ultimatum to the commandant of the fortress demanding to surrender voluntarily within 24 hours, to which he received a haughty response.

For two days, artillery preparation for the assault was carried out, ending 2 hours before it began. After 8 hours the fortress fell. The victory was so brilliant and incredible that even now there are Russophobes who call the assault a "spectacle." Despite everything, it will remain in history as one of the glorious pages of Russian history.

Once impregnable, but now actively visited

As noted above, impregnable castles and fortresses are scattered all over the world. The most famous is Pingyao (China), built in 827-782. BC and still exists today, and in good condition. The visual personification of impregnability is the fortress of Arg-e Bam (Iran), built in 500 AD, and standing on a sheer cliff in Portugal.

Herons 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.