Hello everyone!
Today I want to share with you a special place I discovered on my last visit to Tangier: the Dar El Baroud Fort. This historic site impressed me with its architecture and fascinating history!
Dar El Baroud is an ancient fortress located in the old town (Medina) of Tangier. It was built in the 15th century to protect the city from attack. In the past, it was used as a depot for ammunition, weapons and cannons. Walking around the site, I imagined what life was like here in the past: soldiers watching over the sea, ready to defend the city....
The site was restored in 2015. It used to be a bit abandoned, but now it has been restored to its former glory. Today, it houses the Tangier Fortifications Interpretation Centre.
Before entering, I took a few photos outside the fortress!
As soon as I entered the fortress, I was immediately attracted by its spectacular old architecture. From the ramparts, you can admire the Atlantic Ocean in the distance. The wind was blowing gently, making the atmosphere even more pleasant.
I took my time exploring every corner of the fortress. I read the explanations on the walls and looked carefully at the exhibits.
The Dar El Baroud monument is a battery whose projecting flanks mark the north-east corner of the Medina enclosure overlooking Tangier harbour and the Straits of Gibraltar. It is one of the most imposing and prestigious batteries in Tangier and, thanks to its strategic location, played a key role in protecting the city from foreign covetousness. Covering an area of around 2,800 m², this major defensive structure is divided into five platforms (Borj-Bricha and Borj-Chachoun) armed with cannons of different calibres installed at different times, including two impressive Armstrong cannons. As well as being solid and impregnable, this monument shows a perfect layout of its interior spaces and a mastery of the art of construction and military engineering.
The Dar El Baroud fort was one of the fortifications built to reinforce all the main ports on the Moroccan coast with new defence structures and artillery. These consisted of fortifications adapted to firearms (gunboats, watchtowers, etc).
I browsed through the posters tracing Tangier's fascinating history, from antiquity to the present day. They show medieval Tangier, the Portuguese occupation (1471-1662), then the English (1662-1684), before arriving at the city as we know it today. It's a real plunge into the city's past, with its many different civilisations!
Tangier in 1768, engraving by G.Host
Now I'm getting ready to climb to the highest terrace in the fort. From up there, a breathtaking view awaits me, as well as some fascinating discoveries!
Next, I passed through a corner where several rooms display impressive objects: 18th-century royal naval outfits, weapons, manuscripts, statues of warriors and even artillery!
Team of gunners in action :
- Battery commander
- Loader
- Gunner
- Scout
The different stages of firing:
The lantern (or spoon, with a long handle) was used to measure out and place a charge of powder (before using canvas gargousses).
The rammer (shaped like a plug on a handle) was used to press the two wads into the barrel (one between the powder and the ball, and the other behind the ball to prevent it rolling away from the powder before firing).
Once the gun has been loaded, the breech (which contains the gunpowder) is punctured with the breech disgorger, which the gunners push through the port (a fine cylindrical channel drilled in the barrel of the gun, where the primer is placed). Fine powder is poured inside to prime the charge.
Then a blaster (a handle at the end of which a wick is always lit) is used to ignite the charge.
Once the shot has been fired, the barrel is cleaned of debris with a brush (with a long handle), then cleaned with a (soft) swab.
(The above firing information is displayed in French on a poster and I have translated it into English on deepl.com)
At the end of my visit, I left the fort and, before hailing a taxi to go to the city centre where my cousin was waiting for me in a café, I took the time to take one last look around the fortress, as if to soak up its magnificent atmosphere one last time.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post! I really enjoyed capturing the photos of this beautiful historic fortress, and I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did. If there's anything that struck a chord with you, or if you'd like to share your impressions, don't hesitate to leave a comment, I'd love to hear what you think! And if you like my work, please share it with others, it would give me great pleasure, it's a real boost that encourages me to continue exploring and helping you discover the wonders of my country. Thank you very much, and see you soon for more visits!
Photos taken by mobile phone (Samsung Galaxy A04s) !
Travel Digest #2476.
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