Category: Military Architecture > Fort
District: Lisboa > Loures > Bucelas > Vila de Rei
Situated in the locality of Bucelas, municipality of Loures, the Fort of Portela Pequena is located in an elevated area, part of the wider region of Vila de Rei. Built atop the Serra da Aguieira, this fort dominates the Bucelas gorge, a strategic position that offers wide and unobstructed views.
From here, one can contemplate a superb landscape over the Tejo river valley and its floodplains, providing a natural panorama of great beauty and a tranquil environment, ideal for a unique perspective on the region.
The Fort of Portela Pequena is part of the Second Defensive Line of the Lines of Torres Vedras, a remarkable system of fortifications built for the defense of Lisbon against French invasions in the early 19th century. Its main function was to control and protect access to the Serra da Aguieira and Portela Pequena, as well as to monitor important roads connecting Alverca and São Tiago dos Velhos.
Its position was crucial to impede the enemy's advance through this gorge, thereby ensuring the security of the entire region and the Portuguese capital itself. This fort was one of many key points in this impressive work of military engineering.
With an undecagonal shape, meaning eleven sides, this fort was built mainly of earth, with stone finishes and facings. Its original defensive structure included a surrounding moat, scarps, counterscarps, and various gun emplacements, essential elements for its combat capability.
A particularity that distinguishes it and makes it unique among the Lines of Torres is its powder magazine, the ammunition storage site, which has a rare stone vaulted roof. This feature is noteworthy, as most powder magazines in the Lines of Torres were covered by wood, and its preservation is remarkable to this day.
Currently, the structures of the Fort of Portela Pequena remain relatively well preserved, allowing visitors a clear perception of its original configuration. It is clearly possible to observe the moat that surrounded it, although some areas have vegetation and loose stone blocks, which is natural for a centuries-old structure.
A visit to this site provides a direct understanding of the military engineering of the era and the environment in which these soldiers lived, defending the territory. It is a point of interest that invites reflection on the history and strategic value of the region.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.89889350908138, -9.070624073099102
Coordinates DMS: 38°53'56.0"N 09°04'14.2"W
On-duty Pharmacy Bucelas
