Bom Sucesso Fort

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Belém > Pedrouços

Location

Located in the Pedrouços area, in Belém, Lisbon, the Bom Sucesso Fort is strategically positioned on the right bank of the Tagus River. This location offers a wide view over the estuary, inviting a privileged perspective of the riverside landscape. It is integrated into an area of great historical and cultural value in the Portuguese capital, near the Monument to the Overseas Combatants.

Origin and Military Purpose

The construction of the Bom Sucesso Fort began in 1780, under the direction of General Guilherme de Vallerée, and was completed in 1782. Its main mission was to complement the defensive line of the Tagus estuary bar, protecting the entrance to Lisbon and reinforcing the security of the Belém region. Throughout history, the fort underwent several modernizations, notably between 1870 and 1874, when it was adapted to integrate the Lisbon Entrenched Field, receiving advanced artillery pieces for its time.

During the Peninsular War, and particularly during the French Invasions, the fort played a relevant role in the city's defense. In later phases, it was also garrisoned by units of the Portuguese Army, such as the 4th Battery of the Coastal Artillery Regiment, underlining its continuous strategic importance until the mid-20th century.

Architectural Features

The Bom Sucesso Fort features a polygonal plan, adapted to the morphology of the river bank. Its structure included a battery connected to the adjacent area of the Belém Tower, historically by a walled corridor, evidencing its function as part of a cohesive defensive system.

Inside the walled perimeter, the former governor's residence stands out, a rectangular-plan building. Its main facade, divided into three sections, displays a large central arch that, in times past, allowed direct passage to Bom Sucesso beach. The fort's internal spaces were designed to support the garrison and the storage of ammunition and military equipment.

A Hub of Memory and Military History

Since 1994, the premises of the Bom Sucesso Fort have been integrated into the Monument to the Overseas Combatants, under the administration of the Combatants' League. The fort currently houses the Combatant's Museum, a space dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of the memory of Portuguese military personnel and the conflicts in which Portugal was involved.

Inside, the museum presents permanent exhibitions that address the experience of the Portuguese combatant in different eras, from World War I to the Overseas Campaigns and contemporary peace missions. Visitors can also explore the history of aviation, through models and artifacts, and observe diverse military equipment displayed both inside and in the fort's outdoor areas, which invite reflection on national military history.

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