Peniche Fortress

Category: Military Architecture > Fort

District: Leiria > Peniche > Peniche > São Pedro

Location

The Peniche Fort stands imposingly in the locality of Peniche, situated in the São Pedro area. Its location is strategic, at the southern tip of the Peniche Peninsula, resting directly on the coastal cliffs. From this privileged vantage point, it offers a wide perspective over the ocean and the maritime surroundings of the town, with the fishing port extending to the east, testifying to Peniche's deep connection to the sea.

Origins and Military Past

The history of Peniche Fort dates back to the 16th century, a time when the Portuguese coast was frequently targeted by corsair attacks. To safeguard the fishing village and its strategic mouth of the Ribeira d'Atouguia river, King D. João III ordered the construction of a fortification. Works, initiated in 1557, culminated in the creation of a remarkable bastioned structure that, over the years, was reinforced and expanded, particularly in the context of the War of Restoration of Independence in the 17th century, under the direction of military engineers.

This defensive bastion witnessed crucial episodes in Portugal's history, from the landing of English troops supporting D. António Prior do Crato in 1589, to its occupation during the Napoleonic Invasions. Its strategic importance led to its classification as a National Monument in 1938. A curious historical detail is the attempt to erase the memory of its founders: in the mid-18th century, the coats of arms of the Ataídes, a family linked to the fort's construction, were defaced due to the persecution carried out by the Marquês de Pombal against the Távoras, with whom they had family ties.

Defensive Architecture

Peniche Fort presents an impressive bastioned structure, with a plan that adapts to the terrain in an irregular star-shaped polygonal form. The walled perimeter extends for about two hectares, revealing the grandeur of its defensive conception. This fortified complex is accessed by several gates, such as the "Porta das Cabanas" and the "Porta Nova", which provide access to its interior.

The citadel, one of its defensive hearts, is protected by bastions crowned with circular sentry boxes and once had cannon emplacements strategically pointed towards the sea. On the land side, a triangular ravelin defended the main gate. Some of the initial constructions include the Round Bastion, the Watchtower, the highest point of the fort and formerly essential for observation, and the Chapel of Santa Bárbara, elements that attest to its architectural complexity and military functionality.

The Fort as a Political Prison

With the progressive loss of its exclusively military function, Peniche Fort transformed into a detention site, used as a prison since the 19th century, particularly during the Liberal Wars. However, it was during the Estado Novo period, from 1934 onwards, that it gained notoriety as a maximum-security political prison, becoming a symbol of the struggle for freedom in Portugal.

This place was the scene of dramatic stories of resistance, including the famous escapes of some of its prisoners. Among them, the ingenious evasion of António Dias Lourenço in 1954 stands out, and, in 1960, the significant "Peniche escape," led by Álvaro Cunhal and a group of comrades. These episodes, as well as other dark moments like the "War of the Fuses" in the 1930s, illustrate the harshness of the regime and the resilience of those detained there, shaping the fort's memory.

Testimony of Memory and Freedom

After the Revolution of April 25, 1974, Peniche Fort underwent a new phase, initially serving as temporary shelter for Portuguese citizens returning from overseas territories. Later, in the early 1980s, part of the fort was converted into a museum, with the aim of preserving the memory of anti-fascist resistance and, simultaneously, celebrating Peniche's historical and ethnographic past, with particular emphasis on its intrinsic connection to the sea.

Currently, Peniche Fort houses the National Museum of Resistance and Freedom. Visitors can explore the spaces that were prison cells, including the reconstruction of a political prison environment and the cell where Álvaro Cunhal was detained, and observe some of his drawings. This museum is a space for reflection on Portugal's recent history, honoring the memory of those who fought for freedom and emphasizing the fort's role as a valuable testimony to their legacy.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt