Girona, Catalonia, Spain — Southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula)
General Don Mariano Alvarez de Castro
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 27, 2022
1. General Don Mariano Alvarez de Castro Marker
Here in 1809 lived General Mariano Alvarez de Castro, who with the people and army united made Girona heroic and eternal in memory.
Erected 1986.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: Wars, Non-US. A significant historical date for this entry is May 6, 1809.
Location. 41° 59.248′ N, 2° 49.506′ E. Memorial is in Girona, Cataluña (Catalonia). It is at the intersection of Carrer de la Força and Plaça de Catedral, on the left when traveling north on Carrer de la Força. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: Carrer de la Força 51, Girona, Cataluña 17004, Spain. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in the European Union, in Atlantic Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula, in the Schengen Area, in a coastal Mediterranean country, and in the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Byzantine Empire, a Spanish colony, and the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Antic Hostal de la Lleona / Old Hostel of the Lion (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Ramon Font i Miquel (1840-1901) (about 120 meters away); Rafael Masó i Valentí (about
this page online
Also see . . . Mariano Álvarez de Castro (Wikipedia).
Excerpt (summation and the Siege of Girona): "Brigadier Mariano José Manuel Bernardo Álvarez Bermúdez de Castro y López Aparicio (September 8, 1749 – January 21, 1810) was a Spanish military officer, and the military governor of Girona during the siege by the French during the War of Spanish Independence....On the 6 May 1809 a French army of 18,000 men besieged the town. Álvarez had only 5,600 men under arms. The French mounted 40 gun batteries that over the next seven months fired some 20,000 explosive shells and 60,000 cannonballs into the city. In August, the French captured the castle of Montjuïc, the main defensive point. Undeterred, Álavarez constructed barricades and trenches inside the city and battle raged for another four months before Álavarez, exhausted and ill, handed over command to a subordinate. Two days later, on 12 December, the town capitulated. It is estimated that some 10,000 people, soldiers and civilians, had died inside. French losses were around 15,000, over half of those to disease."
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 27, 2022
2. General Don Mariano Alvarez de Castro Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here to the left of the red Volkswagen, about 3 meters off the ground.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 27, 2022
3. General Don Mariano Alvarez de Castro Marker - wider view
The marker is (sort of) visible here in the center right of the picture, about 4 meters to the right of the building entrance.
The stairway might appear half-familiar to some, as these steps were a filming location in Season 6 of the series Game of Thrones. The scene as aired, however, had special effects which effectively disappeared the building on which the marker is displayed, substituting a crowd in the middle foreground and coastline as background.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 243 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 3, 2022, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
