Carvoeira Fort

Category: Military Architecture > Fort

District: Lisboa > Mafra > Carvoeira > Foz do Lizandro

Location

The Carvoeira Fort is located in the locality of Carvoeira, in the municipality of Mafra, within the Foz do Lizandro area. Built at an altitude of 98 meters, its position offers a privileged perspective of the surrounding rural landscape and its proximity to the coast, where the Lizandro River flows into the Atlantic.

This former defense post benefits from a location that combines the serenity of the countryside with views extending to the sea, providing a tranquil environment for visitors.

A Legacy of the Lines of Torres Vedras

Built in the 19th century, the Carvoeira Fort is an important piece of Portuguese military architecture. It is recognized as work number 96, part of the second defensive line of the vast system of the Lines of Torres Vedras, a set of fortifications erected in record time to protect Lisbon from the French invasions that ravaged the country in the early 19th century.

By order of General Wellesley, this defensive structure was strategically positioned to control the territory and prevent the advance of Napoleonic troops, playing a crucial role in the defense of Portugal during the Peninsular War.

Strategic Function and Characteristics

The Carvoeira Fort was designed to house a garrison that could vary between 280 to 320 soldiers. The troops operating here, mainly local militias and ordinaries, were equipped with weaponry of the time, such as Baker carbines and Brown Bess muskets, forming part of the Lecor Division. Its configuration allowed for the installation of artillery, with an estimated presence of three 12-pounder pieces.

Today, this site, which was once a vital defense point, serves as a historical-cultural landmark. It remains a testament to the military strategy of the era and the dedication of the men who garrisoned it, allowing visitors a direct connection to a significant chapter in Portuguese history.

Heritage and Natural Environment

The Carvoeira Fort is part of the classified ensemble of the Lines of Torres, recognizing its heritage importance. Despite the passage of time, the fort is in a state of preservation that allows for the observation of its constructive elements and the understanding of its original design as an 19th-century defensive work.

Set within a rural context, the site invites appreciation of the landscape. The altitude and proximity to the Foz do Lizandro area offer views that extend across the surrounding nature, combining the military austerity of the fort with the serenity of the natural environment that surrounds it.

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