洮州衛城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)位(wei)于(yu)(yu)臨潭縣新城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)鎮。據《衛城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)竣工碑》記載,衛城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)筑于(yu)(yu)明洪武(wu)十二(er)年(1397),同時隍廟亦竣。洮州衛城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)坐北(bei)(bei)面(mian)(mian)南,依(yi)山而建,平面(mian)(mian)呈不規則長(chang)方形,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻總(zong)周長(chang)5400余米(mi),總(zong)占地面(mian)(mian)積2.98平方千米(mi)。衛城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻順河而建,其他三(san)面(mian)(mian)順山而上(shang),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)三(san)分之一位(wei)于(yu)(yu)山上(shang),東北(bei)(bei)高,西南低。四(si)周城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻及南門保(bao)存較好,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻上(shang)有馬面(mian)(mian)16個、角墩9個,東、西、北(bei)(bei)門存甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東北(bei)(bei)和西北(bei)(bei)山頭有烽火臺。
洪武十二年(公元1379年)西(xi)平侯沐(mu)英、大(da)(da)都督金朝興于東隴山之南(nan)(nan)川(chuan)筑城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),得(de)到了當(dang)地藏族(zu)土(tu)司頭人(ren)的大(da)(da)力支持。全城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)跨山連川(chuan),因形就勢(shi)而筑,巍然(ran)屹(yi)立,氣(qi)勢(shi)雄偉。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周實(shi)測為5430米(mi)(原(yuan)載九里),垣(yuan)墻(qiang)高9米(mi)以上(shang),東西(xi)南(nan)(nan)北設四座(zuo)甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),并有敵樓(lou)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內外(wai)墩臺相(xiang)望(wang),形成警報通(tong)訊系(xi)統(tong)。明中葉后(hou),在(zai)海眼池南(nan)(nan)筑垣(yuan)墻(qiang)和(he)水西(xi)門甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),成為甘(gan)南(nan)(nan)現存大(da)(da)的一座(zuo)古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。
三國(公(gong)(gong)元220-265年(nian)(nian))時期,在(zai)臨(lin)潭(tan)(tan)已有挑陽、侯和(he)兩城(cheng)(cheng),蜀(shu)將姜(jiang)維與魏將鄧艾曾戰(zhan)于侯和(he)。北魏(公(gong)(gong)元420-532年(nian)(nian))置(zhi)洪和(he)郡(jun),北周(zhou)(公(gong)(gong)元572-581年(nian)(nian))改(gai)置(zhi)美相(xiang)縣,隋(公(gong)(gong)元581-618年(nian)(nian))廢(fei)郡(jun)置(zhi)州(zhou)(zhou),成(cheng)(cheng)為挑州(zhou)(zhou)治所。唐(tang)貞觀(guan)八年(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元749年(nian)(nian))移州(zhou)(zhou)治于挑陽川,原址乃為美相(xiang)縣,屬挑州(zhou)(zhou)管轄。天寶年(nian)(nian)間(公(gong)(gong)元742-756年(nian)(nian))并入臨(lin)潭(tan)(tan)縣(即(ji)今臨(lin)潭(tan)(tan)縣舊城(cheng)(cheng))。安史之亂后(hou)沒干吐蕃,其后(hou)未(wei)見建制(zhi)。故原城(cheng)(cheng)址自唐(tang)天寶至(zhi)明初(chu),長達600多(duo)年(nian)(nian),被徹(che)底破(po)壞(huai)。在(zai)實測(ce)城(cheng)(cheng)址時,發現洮州(zhou)(zhou)衛城(cheng)(cheng)是在(zai)原洪和(he)城(cheng)(cheng)基(ji)礎上(shang)擴建改(gai)筑(zhu)而成(cheng)(cheng)的。
城(cheng)內有明(ming)、清時(shi)期(qi)城(cheng)隍廟(miao)1座(zuo),1936年(nian)(nian)8月,中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)工(gong)農紅(hong)軍(jun)第四方(fang)(fang)面軍(jun)在(zai)(zai)朱(zhu)(zhu)德(de)等率領下(xia)進駐新(xin)城(cheng),在(zai)(zai)城(cheng)隍廟(miao)成立(li)臨(lin)潭縣蘇維(wei)埃(ai)政(zheng)府(fu)(fu),并(bing)召(zhao)(zhao)開(kai)“洮州(zhou)會議”作出了四方(fang)(fang)面軍(jun)停止西(xi)渡的(de)重大決定。城(cheng)內街道布(bu)局基本尚存(cun)。隍廟(miao)建筑群(qun)座(zuo)落在(zai)(zai)衛城(cheng)中(zhong)(zhong)心偏(pian)北(bei)(bei)(bei)的(de)臺地(di)上,坐北(bei)(bei)(bei)朝(chao)南,中(zhong)(zhong)軸對稱,東西(xi)長51米,南北(bei)(bei)(bei)130米,現(xian)存(cun)主(zhu)要(yao)建筑四座(zuo):大殿、東西(xi)廡殿、山(shan)門樓(lou)臺和東西(xi)廊房,為清代建筑。1936年(nian)(nian)8月,紅(hong)四方(fang)(fang)面軍(jun)在(zai)(zai)朱(zhu)(zhu)德(de)、徐向前和李先念指揮下(xia),攻克新(xin)城(cheng),成立(li)臨(lin)潭蘇維(wei)埃(ai)政(zheng)府(fu)(fu),在(zai)(zai)隍廟(miao)召(zhao)(zhao)開(kai)了著(zhu)名的(de)“洮州(zhou)會議”。1943年(nian)(nian),由(you)卓尼水(shui)磨川(chuan)活(huo)佛(fo)肋巴佛(fo)和王(wang)仲甲領導的(de)甘(gan)南各族農牧民大起義也爆發于此,威震(zhen)西(xi)北(bei)(bei)(bei)。城(cheng)內部分(fen)民居保(bao)存(cun)較好,特色鮮(xian)明(ming)。