Fortaleza de São Sebastião da Enxara dos Cavaleiros (South)

Category: Military Architecture > Fort

District: Lisboa > Mafra > Enxara do Bispo > Quinta da Fonte Forneira

Location

The Fort of São Sebastião da Enxara dos Cavaleiros (South), often referred to as the Small Fort, is located in the Quinta da Fonte Forneira area, in the locality of Enxara do Bispo, municipality of Mafra. Built at an altitude of 225 meters, the fort benefits from a rural setting, offering an extensive view over the surrounding landscape, highlighting its strategic position in the local topography.

The Defensive Structure

Dating back to the 19th century, specifically 1810, this military fort is part of the vast defensive system known as the Lines of Torres Vedras. It was conceived with the primary objective of protecting Lisbon from potential new French invasions during the Peninsular War. Its location was crucial for safeguarding the road connecting Torres Vedras to Montachique and, in particular, for ensuring the protection of General Wellesley's headquarters in Pero Negro, thus reinforcing the first line of defense.

Vestiges of the Military Past

With an elongated floor plan, the Fort of São Sebastião da Enxara dos Cavaleiros was designed to house a garrison of approximately 280 soldiers. The military personnel responsible for the defense of the forts in the Mafra region comprised militias and ordinaries, equipped with weaponry of the time, such as Baker carbines and Brown Bess muskets, and were part of the Lecor Division. Inside, elements that recall its original function can still be observed, such as the powder magazine, intended for ammunition storage, and two traverses, which served as protective barriers within the fortification.

Recognition and Heritage

Currently, the Fort of São Sebastião da Enxara dos Cavaleiros is a relevant historical-cultural landmark, a testament to 19th-century military architecture in Portugal. This heritage has undergone recovery interventions, notably in 2008, which have contributed to its conservation. The entire complex of the Lines of Torres Vedras, to which this fort belongs, was distinguished in 2014 with the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards, an international recognition of the importance and value of the preservation work of this historical legacy.

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