Cheese Castle or Cheese Fortress

Category: Military Architecture > Fort

District: Porto > Porto > Porto

Location

Located in the parish of Nevogilde, in Porto, the Cheese Castle enjoys a privileged position, next to the Atlantic Ocean and close to the mouth of the Douro River.

Origin of the Name

The popular name "Cheese Castle" arose because it was built on a rounded granite rock that, according to tradition, resembles the shape of a cheese.

History

, Built in the 17th century, during the Restoration War (1640-1668), to protect the coast against attacks from the sea.

, Its construction was supervised by the French engineer Miguel de l’Ècole and the captain of the Royal Navy, Fernando César de Carvalhais Negreiros.

, At the beginning of the 18th century, the Porto City Council tried to deactivate it because it was considered useless, but the request was denied.

, The castle played an important role during the Siege of Porto in the Liberal Wars (1828-1834).

Use Over Time

, Already in the 20th century, the fort was classified as a Property of Public Interest (1934).

, After April 25, 1974, it came under the management of the Commando Association (Northern Delegation), which maintains a historical-military museum on site.

Architectural Features

, The fort has the shape of a triangular polygon, with robust stone walls and turrets at its vertices.

, It has a drawbridge, an arched access gate with a shield of Portugal, and several firing platforms with historical cannons.

, Inside, there is the Command House, barracks, powder magazine and a cistern.

Visits and Events

, Today, the site is well preserved and open to the public.

, In addition to the military museum, cultural programming and events are frequently held.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forte_de_São_Francisco_Xavier_do_Queijo

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