Fort of Cabeço da Acheira

Category: Military Architecture > Fort

District: Lisboa > Mafra > Casal da Pedra Que Luz > Monte do Touro

Location

The Fort of Cabeço da Acheira is strategically and highly situated in the municipality of Mafra, in the Monte do Touro urbanization, near the locality of Casal da Pedra Que Luz. Erected at an altitude of approximately 249 meters, the fort benefits from a predominantly rural setting, offering expansive views over the surrounding landscape.

Its location, characteristic of a military work, allowed for visual and defensive control of a vast area, integrating it into a strategic system that extended throughout this region, fundamental to its original purpose during the 19th-century conflicts.

Historical Context: The Lines of Torres Vedras

This fort is a testament to 19th-century Portuguese military history, forming an integral part of the historic Lines of Torres Vedras. This vast defensive system was urgently erected in 1810, by order of General Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington), to protect Lisbon during the French Invasions.

The Fort of Cabeço da Acheira, also known as Fort of Alto do Cheira and identified as military work number 62, played a crucial role in the second line of these defenses. Its existence underlines the determination and military ingenuity of the era in safeguarding national sovereignty.

Construction and Military Function

Conceived as a 19th-century military architectural structure, the fort was designed to house a considerable garrison of approximately 390 soldiers. Its defensive capacity provided for the installation of three 12-pounder artillery pieces, allowing significant firepower to deter or repel enemy advances.

The forces entrusted with its defense were composed of local militias and ordenanças, equipped with typical weaponry of the era, such as Baker rifles and Brown Bess muskets, integrating Lecor's Division. This fort is, therefore, a concrete example of the organization and resources dedicated to the defense of the territory during that turbulent phase of history.

Legacy and Current Environment

Currently, the Fort of Cabeço da Acheira is recognized as an important historical-cultural landmark. Although it may present some undergrowth in its immediate surroundings, the fort is in a good state of preservation, allowing visitors a clear perception of its original form and its imposing presence on the terrain.

The site invites a serene stroll, where one can contemplate the military engineering of bygone eras and reflect on the strategic importance that this and other fortifications had for the country's defense. The rural atmosphere and tranquility that now surround it contrast with its past of intense military activity.

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