Matoutinho Fort

Category: Military Architecture > Fort

District: Lisboa > Mafra > Venda do Valador

Location

The Matoutinho Fort stands at approximately 357 meters above sea level, in the locality of Venda do Valador, in the municipality of Mafra, in the district of Lisbon. This elevated point offers a perspective on the surrounding rural landscape, integrating into the vast defensive network that marked the country's history, known as the Torres Vedras Lines.

Its strategic position, within the 2nd Line of this defensive system and identified as Military Work 68, allowed for the control of important roads and access points, in a predominantly countryside setting that remains to this day.

Memory of the French Invasions

Built in the 19th century, the Matoutinho Fort is a testament to the Portuguese and British Military Engineering of the time, erected during a crucial period in Portugal's history. It was part of the fortification system ordered by General Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington, with the aim of protecting Lisbon from Napoleon's invasions during the Peninsular War.

This site served as one of the defensive pillars that halted the advance of French troops, becoming a cultural and historical landmark that reminds us of the resilience and military strategy of that era.

Structure and Garrison

The fort was designed to accommodate a significant garrison of about 260 soldiers. These were composed of local militias and ordenanças, equipped with weaponry characteristic of the time, such as Baker carbines and Brown Bess muskets.

For its firepower, it relied on four 12-pounder artillery pieces, strategically positioned to defend the surrounding area. Although it is currently a well-preserved structure, its design reflects the functionality and robustness necessary for a military work of its scale.

A Historic Rural Setting

Visiting the Matoutinho Fort is an opportunity to experience a piece of Portugal's history in a calm and rural environment. Its elevation provides unobstructed views of the fields and hills of the Mafra region, inviting a pause and contemplation of nature.

This fort, which once echoed with the sound of soldiers and artillery, is now a peaceful place where one can feel the strategic importance of the past and appreciate the serenity of the current landscape.

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