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Date Published: 05/08/2021
ARCHIVED - Second phase of work begins to restore the castle of Despeñaperros in Cartagena
The 19th century fortress on the easternmost of the five hills of Cartagena is also known as the castle of San José
The department of Archaeological Heritage in Cartagena has contracted a project to study the recovery of the southeast and northeast corners of the castle of Despeñaperros, worl which will constitute the second phase of the castle’s restoration. The objective is to have this stage, which is costing 6,000 euros, completed by the end of the year so that any additional work can be included in the 2022 budget.
The work to strengthen and reinforce the northwest wall of the fortress began in April with the bulk of the effort focusing on the three sections of the wall which are most visible from the city centre. The initiative is one of the measures included in a wider plan to improve the condition of the historical centre of Cartagena, and aims to increase the attractiveness of Despeñaperros as a destination for tourists. Close to 60,000 euros has been invested in the first phase of the project.
The Department of Heritage has already received approval from the Department of Culture for the Master Plan for the recovery and enhancement of Despeñaperros, and the second phase of the project will focus on preventing possible landslides.
The historical fortress was built in the early 19th century to protect the Puertas de San José and the Castillo de Los Moros during the Peninsular War of 1808 to 1814, when Spain fought against the troops of Napoleon with the aid of the British. It now stands on the grounds of the UPCT university campus, and in 2017 an agreement was reached between the Town Hall of Cartagena and the AFORCA association by which it was to be restored along with the hillside around it.
This need for restoration arose despite the castle of Despeñaperros having been declared an Item of Cultural Interest in 1997, after which its condition has continued to deteriorate steadily.
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Images: Ayto Cartagena
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