Stronghold of the Sky Mill

Category: Military Architecture > Fort

District: Lisboa > Sobral de Monte Agraço > Santo Quintino > Pé do Monte

Location:

The Moinho do Céu Fort is located in the Pé do Monte area, belonging to the locality of Santo Quintino, in the municipality of Sobral de Monte Agraço. Built at an altitude of 323 meters, this site offers a predominantly rural setting. Its elevated position provides a vast perspective over the surrounding landscape, characteristic of defensive structures of its time.

Historical Legacy:

This fort, a 19th-century construction, is an element of the famous Torres Vedras Lines, the complex defensive system erected to protect Lisbon from Napoleonic invasions in the early 19th century. Also known as Military Work No. 11 of the 1st Defensive Line, the Moinho do Céu Fort was designed to house a garrison of approximately 300 soldiers. In 1810, Major Brandão de Sousa gave it the designation that still identifies it today. In its time, this fortification had artillery pieces, demonstrating its strategic importance in national defense.

Heritage and View:

Currently, the Moinho do Céu Fort is recognized as a relevant historical-cultural landmark. Although vestiges of its original structure remain, the site has gained new life as a space of cultural and recreational interest. Visitors to the fort can appreciate not only the historical significance of the military architecture present there but also enjoy the tranquil atmosphere and panoramic views over the region. Curiously, 20th-century records refer to the existence of a restored windmill on the site, an element that highlights the fort's name and contributes to the uniqueness of the experience for those who explore it.

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