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The Fort of San Damian
The Castle or Fort of San Damián is a bastioned fortification from the Modern period, located on the western margin of the mouth of the Ribadeo estuary, at the top of a coastal point with an abrupt profile, which has been playing the role as watchman and protector of the town and the Ribadian port.
Its origin dates back to 1624, although its structure was modified until it reached us, currently maintaining the original layout with which it was designed by the prestigious military engineer Francisco Llovet in its reconstruction in 1763.
Acquired by the City Council of Ribadeo in 1965 and declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1994, it was recently rehabilitated to house the current San Damián Fort Interpretation Center, becoming one of the best preserved buildings of this era and typology of all. the Cantabrian.
The Fort in time
History
The origins of the Fort (17th century)
Juan Alonso de Idiáquez, Marquis of San Damián, built an artillery battery in Punta do Carballo in 1624, which became known as Fuerte or Castillo de San Damián.
Ribadeo, privateer port (18th century)
Destroyed in 1719 during the English attack on the town, it was rebuilt in 1743 and renovated and expanded in 1763 according to the design of the prestigious military engineer Francisco Llovet.
The War of Independence (19th century)
Dismantled in 1809 by the Spanish army before the imminent arrival of French troops, it was abandoned in 1810 after being used as a hospital for a brief period.