Vault Cities? No, Walled Cities Quiz

Answer: Lahore

The Walled City of Lahore, also known as "Anderoon Shehr", dates back to the Mughal era. The city had thirteen gates marking different entry points to the city. In the 19th century, the British annexed the province of Punjab and destroyed the fortifications of its capital city, Lahore. The city walls were replaced by gardens and only one gate, the Roshnai Gate, was left. Some of the gates have since been rebuilt, though in a much simpler fashion than the original ones.

Lahore is the second largest city in Pakistan and famous as a hub for handmade carpets.

Answer: China

The Kowloon Walled City was originally a Chinese military fort located in the Kowloon region of Hong Kong. When the Chinese leased the area to the British in 1898, the walled city remained an enclave of China. Lack of proper governance led to high rates of prostitution, gambling and drug use.

The Hong Kong government finally demolished the city in 1994. Kowloon Walled City Park was built over the area in 1995 and contains artifacts from the Walled City.

Answer: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik was an important centre for maritime trade in the 15th - 17th centuries. The strong fortifications around the city were first developed during the 12th century and were continuously added to even up to the 17th century. The length covered by the walls around the city is around 1940 meters with a maximum height of 25 meters.

The city of Dubrovnik is one of the best preserved among the walled cities of the world.

Answer: Quebec City

Quebec City, the capital of Quebec, Canada and the second largest city in the province, was named after an Algonquin word 'kebec' meaning 'where the river narrows' referring to the Saint Lawrence river. One of the oldest cities in Canada, it was founded in 1608 by the French. It passed into British hands after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759.

Answer: Xi'an

Known as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China as it was the capital for Zhou, Tang, Han, Sui and Qin dynasties, the origins of Xi'an can be traced back right up to the Han dynasty in the 3rd century BC. The Xi'an city wall was originally built in the 1st century BC by the Han.

The wall has been restored multiple times during the years and is accessible to tourists from certain gates.

Answer: Moors

Cuenca, located in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, was built by the Moors in the centre of the Caliphate of Cordoba and was later taken over by the Christians in the 12th century. The city is famous for its 'hanging houses' which appear to be suspended from the cliffs on the sides of the Huecar river. Cuenca was an important trade hub with a flourishing textile industry in the 16th century.

Answer: Yes

Carcassonne, founded by the Visigoths in the 5th century, is Europe's largest fortified citadel. The double row of walls encompassing the city are almost two miles long and include 56 watchtowers. According to legend, Pepin the Short conquered the whole of South of France in 760 except for the city of Carcassonne.

He figured that the people would soon run out of provisions and surrender. One of the inhabitants, Dame Carcas, fattened the last pig left in the city and threw it over the walls of the town. Assuming that the town had enough food to sustain them if they could waste a pig, Pepin retreated.

In celebration bells were rung throughout the town giving rise to the name Carcassonne (Dame Carcas rings).

Answer: Caspian Sea

The site of the city of Baku is believed to have been inhabited since Paleolithic times and the architecture of the Inner City shows evidence of the different communities that have made the city their home over the years. The main monuments in the Inner City include the Palace of the Shirvanshahs built in the 15th century and the Maiden Tower dating further back.

In 2003, UNESCO placed the city on the World Heritage Sites in Danger list due to damage inflicted by an earthquake in 2000 and lack of conservation efforts to protect the site.

However, it was removed in 2009, after restoration and preservation work was undertaken by the government.

Answer: Rhodes

Rhodes, located on the island of the same name in Greece, is popularly considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited medieval towns of Europe. The city walls were built over a period of almost 200 years from 1330 to 1522. Around four kilometers in length, the walls have seven gates and several watch towers.

Answer: Birmingham

Birmingham is located in the West Midlands. While the origins of the city date back to the Anglo-Saxon area, there is no evidence of any wall encompassing the city at any point in time.

The walls of Chester were built initially by the Romans in 70AD mostly from earth and wood and were later replaced by stone walls and gates. Over the years, the walls were added to and fortified by the different occupants including the Saxons and Normans.

The city walls of Bath and York were also built by the Romans and those of the former date back to the 4th century. York city walls contain four main gates also known as bars - Bootham Bar, Monk Bar, Walmgate Bar and Micklegate Bar.