06/10/2006
Vitoria-Gasteiz, 6 October 2006.
On 16 October, Vitoria-Gasteiz will present a new cultural attraction:
a section of the city´s old medieval (11th century) wall.
Blocked by buildings and streets, the wall has been out of sight for
centuries. Its rediscovery a few months ago complements the restoration
of the city´s historic heritage and the revitalization of the
Historic Quarter.
The tour, which travels along a 3,000 sqm landscaped path, will pass
along part of the fortified defence wall. From a network of walkways,
visitors will be able to see 136 metres of the wall flanked by two
large towers. At its highest point, the wall is 11 metres tall, while
the towers reach 15 metres in height.
The first section of the wall that has been restored sits between the
cantons of Las Carnicerías and La Soledad behind the
buildings located at 98 to 104 Correría Street. The
Escoriaza Esquivel Palace has been built up against
it.
Visitors can take guided tours and enjoy a unique journey to one the
most unknown, interesting sights the city has to offer. The research
conducted over the last two years has led to important discoveries
regarding the town´s origins and urban planning.
The restoration and newfound appreciation for the fortified city wall
is part of the efforts that the Vitoria-Gasteiz Town Council, through
the Municipal Agency for Urban Restoration, is putting forth in order
to breathe new life into the Historic Quarter. The Culture Department
of the Basque Government is also collaborating on this project. The
work being done on the wall is part of a series of activities that are
making Vitoria-Gasteiz and Alava a benchmark for cultural heritage
restoration.
In order to promote the medieval wall´s most interesting
historical, architectural and tourism aspects, the Agency for Urban
Restoration has signed an agreement with the Santa Maria Cathedral
Foundation, which will be responsible for managing the guided tours
programme. The collaboration between both institutions is supported by
both the important role that the Catedral Vieja (Old Cathedral) has in
promoting the Historic Quarter´s restoration, as well as by
its close historical and architectural connection with the wall.
HISTORICAL
IMPORTANCE
This connection has been confirmed by research conducted by the UPV/EHU
Archaeology of Architecture Research Group.
“During the archaeological excavations carried out in the
subsoil of the Catedral Vieja during 2001, remains of an old wall were
discovered. These remains revealed a section of the wall and one of its
towers, which dated back to the second half of the 11th century. There
are similarities between these remains (both with regard to its
dimensions as well as to the techniques used for its construction) and
the part of the wall that is still standing at the city´s
highest point. This has led the UPV/EHU team to the hypothesis that the
walls, thought to have been built by Sancho el Sabio (the Wise), are
actually older than initially believed. They are now thought to date
back to 1181.
A study co-financed by the Vitoria-Gasteiz Town Council and the Basque
Government Department of Culture (2003-2005), has made the in-depth
research on these old walls possible. Thus, it was confirmed that the
old stretch of wall in Vitoria is older than originally thought. It was
also decided that the wall would be restored so that it could be used
again and enjoyed by the Vitoria community and the locals of the
Historic Quarter.
What the public will be able to witness now is a small part of a much
more grandiose project, which, over time, will explore the entire area
that was old Gasteiz during the first centuries of the Middle Ages.
This ambitious project has two goals: 1: To create what will be the
most expressive and significant image of our city´s historic
past. 2: To establish quality urban spaces that increase the
distinctive quality of our Historic Quarter.
Agustín Azkarate, Archaeology Professor at UPV/EHU.
The restoration project currently underway is not only restoring the
wall physically, but also restoring its status as a feature worthy of
being in the city´s foreground. The Vitoria community now has
the unique opportunity of recovering and sharing an important part of
their history thanks to the guided tours programme.
The wall holds traces of the medieval city, the City of Guilds,
Renaissance Vitoria, urban progress and the preparations carried out by
the town against the sieges of the Carlist Wars.
GREEN RING
SURROUNDING THE WALL
During this first phase, the restoration of the old medieval wall also
includes the development of a 3,000 sqm landscaped area between the
wall itself and the buildings on Correría Street.
Archaeological excavations carried out in this area by the UPV/EHU team
have also discovered traces of the old abattoirs and the market, which
operated in the area for hundreds of years until the beginning of the
20th century.
The design for the wall´s Green Ring includes a network of
wooden walkways and landscaped areas. The route begins at an entrance
located in a space that became available following the demolition of a
municipal building, which had been built against the Casa de las Duchas
in the canton of Las Carnicerías.
The walkway runs along the entire perimeter of the parapet and by way
of a ramp, goes up the four metre slope until reaching a vantage point
located on the buttress built against the Escoriaza Esquivel Palace.
Once visitors have seen the first section of the restored wall, they
will be able to witness the work being completed on the second section,
which will be included in this historical and scenic route in just a
few months.
GUIDED ROUTE
The guided tours of the old medieval wall begin at the Santa Maria
Cathedral Visitor´s Centre. From the Santa Maria canton, an
explanation is given surrounding the close connection between both
monuments, which is proven by the traces of the city wall that are, to
this day, preserved in the interior and walls of the Catedral Vieja.
From this canton, visitors are led down Cuchillería Street
until they reach the Catedral Vieja entrance, located in 18th century
buildings that were next to the church itself. Here, an audiovisual
presentation and five models illustrate the city´s history
and urban evolution, tracing the past from the old hamlet of Gasteiz
(8th c.) to the construction of Santa Maria.
The models, of which three are currently completed, are the work of the
Escuela Taller of the Santa Maria Cathedral Foundation and the
Archaeology of Architecture Research Group of the Basque Country
University (UPV). Thus, they are reliable recreations depicting the
evolution of the hill known as El Campillo.
By way of a special wooden staircase, visitors will enter the lower
level of the Cathedral, which contains the apse or retrochoir, where
one can see the solid, blank walls that form part of the
church´s perimeter up close.
From the retrochoir, visitor´s can go to the altar via a
walkway system. This space holds enormous stone remains, which are part
of the 11th century wall, as well as the excavation trench of one of
the towers.
The tour exits the Catedral Vieja through the Santa Ana
façade, where visitors can witness the archaeological
excavations taking place in the Santa Maria Plaza. The route then
continues by way of Fray Zacarías Martínez Street
towards the entrance to the wall´s walkway. In passing,
visitor´s can view the Escoriaza Esquivel Palace (16th c.),
built against the fortified wall.
The first section of the wall that has been restored sits between the
cantons of Las Carnicerías and La Soledad behind the
buildings located at 98 to 104 Correría Street. The entrance
is located in a space that became available following the demolition of
a municipal building, which had been built up against the Casa de las
Duchas and the wall itself.
The tour, following the 3,000 sqm landscaped path, passes along part of
the fortified defence wall. From a network of walkways, visitors will
be able to see 136 metres of the wall flanked by two large towers. At
its highest point, the wall is 11 metres tall, while the towers reach
15 metres in height.
The walkway runs along the entire perimeter of the parapet and, by way
of a ramp, goes up the four metre slope until reaching a vantage point
located on the buttress built against the Escoriaza Esquivel Palace.
From here, one can see the archaeological remains of the old abattoirs
and the city´s market, which operated in this area for
hundreds of years until the beginning of the 20th century.
INFORMATION AND
RESERVATIONS
Those interested in taking a guided tour of the old medieval wall
should make their reservation at the Santa Maria Cathedral
Visitor´s Centre or call 945 255 135.
The Santa Maria Cathedral Foundation, responsible for managing the
guided tours, offers four daily visits that last approximately one hour
each. The scheduled tour times are: in the morning at 11:15am and
12:45pm and in the afternoons at 5:15pm and 7:45pm. The price is 2
euros per person.