🇨🇴  Castillo San Felipe de Barajas & Fortifications of Cartagena,  Colombia

The Castillo San Felipe de Barajas  is the largest fortification and the crowning glory of the Spanish Empire’s defensive network  in the city of Cartagena Colombia. The castle is located on the Hill of San Lázaro in a strategic location, dominating approaches to the city by land or sea. It was built by the Spanish starting in 1536 during the colonial era.

It was originally known as the Castillo de San Lázaro, It was expanded in 1657.

The fortification consists of a series of walls, wide at the base and narrow toward the parapet, forming a formidable pattern of bunkers. The batteries and parapets protect one another, so making it practically impossible to take a battery without taking the whole defense system.
The castle is striking for its grand entrance and its complex maze of tunnels.

It is organized into 8 fortifications to defensively to protect against pirate and foreign power attacks.

Key features include the triangular Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, surrounded by these batteries
de Santa Barbara,
de San Carlos y Los Apostles,
Del Hornabeque
de la Cruz
de la Redencion
de San Lazaro

Joining the Media Luna causeway was a caponniere.

It is the most formidable defensive complex of Spanish military architecture. It is 41 meters (135 ft.) above sea level

The San Lazaro battery’s terreplein included aljibes, while channels and breakwaters dealt with rainwater. The main underground gallery runs along the perimeter of the complex at sea level. Chambers within it could be exploded preventing the advance of overhead attackers.[4]

Starting out with just eight cannons, and a small garrison of 20 soldiers and four gunners, the castle was continuously expanded. It was given further repairs and improvements is it was often in need of repairs due to the unfortunate habit Cartagena had for attracting pirate raids.

The castle first fell to an assault in 1697 by the French privateer Sir Bernard Desjean, Barón de Pointis and Jean Baptiste Ducasse, during the War of the Grand Alliance, a nine-year conflict fought between Louis XIV of France and a European coalition which included the Spanish Empire. Sotomayor’s subsequent repairs included strengthening the defensive capabilities of the fortress, with the addition of extra fortifications and gun turrets.