Visitalltheworld

Walls have been built all around the world through out the centuries for a variety of purposes; either to act as a barrier to stop entry or escape, or to defend or divide a city. Barriers still have an influential presence in the world and today’s walls serve many of the same purposes their historical ancestors did, many of them still standing to remind us of the past. Some of history’s most famous fortifications and walls around the world are protected now by UNESCO and attract thousands of tourists every year:

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China’s iconic structure that remains today was built in the 15th and 17th centuries. The purpose of this wall was to defend the borders of the Chinese dynasties, preventing the fall of the Ming Dynasty. The Great Wall is protected by UNESCO and the part of the wall that is in good condition and open to tourists.

Berlin Wall, Germany

The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 by the communist East German government that was under Soviet control, to prevent emigration to the West. It was 87 miles long and 12 feet tall, encircling the whole of West Berlin and surrounded by fencing, trenches, and dogs, as well as gates including the famous Checkpoint Charlie. In 1989, the East German government announced the reunification of Germany and thousands of people joined together in demolishing the wall.

Avila City Walls, Spain

The old town of Avila in Spain has one of the best perserved medieval city walls in the world. These beautiful walls were built by Christian rulers of the area in 1090, in order to protect the town because it stood near the frontier of the territory taken from Muslim rulers. There are 82 towers and nine gates built within the wall, as well as the city’s massive stone cathedral. Today it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a very popular tourist attraction.

Jerusalem’s Old City Walls, Isreal

The walls that currently surround the old city of Jerusalem were built in 1538, by an Ottoman sultan in order to protect the city from a new Western crusade. The “Holy City” was enclosed by outstanding walls that were made 10 feet thick and between 15 and 50 feet tall, with 43 watchtowers and 11 gates, enclosing the entire city until the1860s. Today, the wall is protected by UNESCO and is an important historic site for both Jews and Christians.

Hadrian’s Wall, Great Britian

Hadrian’s Wall was built in 122 A.D by the Romans to protect the north of the Roman Empire. It is 73.5 miles long and was built a little further south of the modern border between Scotland and England. It was an important barrier for the Roman Emprire as it marked the northern border of Roman control and was protected by 9,000 soldiers. Parts of the wall have deteriorated, but there are still remains that are protected by UNESCO.