Strong 4th of Calhandriz

Category: Military Architecture > Fort

District: Lisboa > Loures > Bucelas > Calhandros Grandes

Location

Situated in the tranquility of the Calhandros Grandes area, in Bucelas, municipality of Loures, the 4th Fort of Calhandriz stands at an altitude of 342 meters. Its elevated position offers a predominantly rural setting, nestled in a landscape that invites observation.

The fort is located to the left of the Calhandriz elevations, benefiting from a position that allowed it to visually dominate the surrounding terrain, crucial for the strategic defense of the region in its time.

A Legacy of the Peninsular War

This fort, built in the 19th century, is a crucial element of the Lines of Torres Vedras, a vast defensive system erected in Portugal to counter French invasions during the Peninsular War. Also known as the Fort of Calhandras, it represents military work number 124 of the first defensive line, meticulously planned by General Wellesley.

Its architectural design features a plan in an irregular six-sided polygon, constructed with robust stone masonry, designed to house a significant garrison of soldiers, initially around 250 men.

Memory and Historical Strategy

The construction of the 4th Fort of Calhandriz, in 1810, was motivated by the need to protect the Alhandra area and the Calhandriz valley from possible flanking maneuvers by Napoleonic troops. Its existence ensured that a vulnerable point was not exploited, contributing decisively to the defense of Lisbon at the time.

Currently, the fort is recognized as an important historical-cultural and recreational landmark, inviting reflection on the events that shaped Portugal's history. It is a place that allows visitors to connect with the country's military past and appreciate the ingenuity of the defenses of that period.

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