Forte do Guincho description and photos - Portugal: Cascais (Topic)

Forte do Guincho description and photos - Portugal: Cascais. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Forte do Guincho.

Photo and description

Fort do Guincho, also called Fort Velas (translated from Portuguese means `` be on the alert, alert ''), is located on the outskirts of Praia do Abano, which stretches along the southern coast of the area Alkabideshe. Although in 1977 the fort was included in the list of objects of public importance, currently this structure is in a deplorable state.

Historians give different dates for the founding of the fort, but most likely this fortress was built around 1640. The fortress was part of a group of structures that formed a defensive line along the coast of Cascais. The construction of the fort took place under the direction of the commandant of the Cascais fortress, Antonio Luis de Meneses, who also commanded the construction of another fort, San Teodosio.

Fort do Guincho was a strategic site and controlled the movement of ships along the river. In 1720, work was carried out, as a result of which the walls were strengthened, the barracks and bunkers were repaired, and the main gate was replaced. Colonel Joao Xavier Teles commanded the work. At that time, a garrison was stationed in the fort and a certain number of cannons were installed. In 1793, the fort was expanded, the walls were reinforced even more so that they would not be destroyed by the waves of the ocean, renovations were carried out in the kitchen and barracks. A wave-scattering wall was built and 4 guardhouses were installed, from which today only the foundation remains.

Since the beginning of the 19th century, the fort was empty. In 1944 the fort was used as a refuge. In 1970, it was planned to place a customs unit in the fort, but the final decision was not made. The fort was vandalized several times and closed. Since 2003, the fort has been handed over to the local government of Cascais, which plans to remodel the fort to house a visitor center.

We also recommend reading Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Malorechenskoye description and photo - Crimea: Alushta

Topic: Forte do Guincho description and photos - Portugal: Cascais.