Sacavém Fort

Category: Military Architecture > Fort

District: Lisboa > Loures > Sacavém > Urbanização Real Forte

Location:

Sacavém Fort, also known as Monte Cintra Redoubt, stands in a slightly elevated position, at an altitude of about 35 meters, on the right bank of the Trancão River. It is located in the Urbanização Real Forte, in the town of Sacavém, municipality of Loures. Its location offers a perspective over the confluence of the Trancão with the Tagus River, a strategic point that was crucial in its military conception.

Currently, the fort is integrated into a modern urban fabric, surrounded by residential blocks. Despite this, its elevation provides an interesting view over the surrounding area, including its proximity to the Northern Line (Linha do Norte) and the riverside areas that today form the Tagus and Trancão Park.

A 19th-Century Defensive Landmark:

The history of Sacavém Fort dates back to the second half of the 19th century, being part of a vast fortification project for Lisbon, known as the Entrenched Camp of the capital. Built on a strategic hill, this fort served to complement the defense of the last lines of access to the city, a vital role in Lisbon's security.

Although the idea of a defensive belt for the capital emerged decades earlier, the effective construction of Sacavém Fort began in 1873. Over the following decades, it served various military functions, from troop barracks to ammunition depot, witnessing part of Portugal's military history of the 20th century.

Hidden Architecture:

Sacavém Fort is distinguished by its ingenious architecture, designed for defense and discretion. It features an irregular pentagonal plan, a type of fortification conceived to withstand the attacks of the era. One of its most notable characteristics is that it is partially buried in the ground and surrounded by a moat.

This design, which included an esplanade with a sharp slope, created the illusion of a small knoll, making the fort almost imperceptible when observed from a lower altitude. This dissimulation not only served to hinder its identification by the enemy but also helped to absorb the impact of projectiles, protecting the interior structures where infantry and artillery were positioned.

Guardian of Architectural Heritage:

After losing its military value in the mid-20th century, Sacavém Fort underwent significant rehabilitation in the late 1990s, which conferred upon it a new and noble function. Today, this historic military building houses the largest architecture archive in the country, playing a fundamental role in preserving Portugal's built memory.

The fort holds a vast documentary collection, which includes hundreds of thousands of drawings, kilometers of shelves with administrative processes, and an impressive archive of photographs of national buildings and monuments. It is, therefore, a vital center for the study and conservation of architectural heritage, transforming a former military redoubt into a true center of knowledge and cultural preservation.

Urban and Natural Contrast:

The area surrounding Sacavém Fort offers an interesting contrast between the fort's military past and the present-day urban and natural development. While, in times past, its immediate vicinity was dominated by old factories and Sacavém station, today it is situated within a modern residential urbanization.

Its proximity to the Trancão River and the green areas of the Tagus and Trancão Park, which extend to the Parque das Nações (Park of Nations) area, provides an environment where nature and urbanity meet, offering a setting for the fort that is simultaneously historic and contemporary.

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