Saint Vincent Fort

Monte de São Vicente - 2560 Torres Vedras

URL: Saint Vincent Fort

Saint Vincent Fort
Forte de São Vicente was part of the Linhas de Torres (Torres Lines), the defensive barrier of Lisbon, built as a protection against the French invasions.

In the beginning of the 18th century, Napoleon entered in conflict with England and invaded several European countries, trying to impose a continental blockade with which he intended to isolate and paralyze the enemy.

Portugal, an old ally of England, defied the siege.

In consequence, the French troops invaded Portugal and the royal family left for Brazil, advised by the English officer Wellington, who was to govern Portugal temporarily.

After the withdrawal of Napoleon's troops, the English, fearing that the French wouldn't keep their word (which they had done twice...), ordered the building of an efficient system of field blockhouses: the Torres Lines.

It was a triple belt of 152 masonry redoubts that strengthened the land's natural obstacles, forming a barrier delimited by the river Tagus and the Atlantic Ocean: the first line was 46-kilometre long and linked Alhandra to the river Sizandro's estuary; the second, with 39 km , stretched from Póvoa de Santa Iria to Ribamar; the third, with only three kilometres , connected Paço de Arcos to the Tower of Junqueira.

The Saint Vincent Fort stood on the second line, on one of the higher hills of the valley where the city lies.

It is formed by assemblage of ditches, trenches and gun-points, and was begun in 1809, having been a key instrument in the defeat of the French troops.