Citadel of Cascais (Cidadela de Cascais) description and photos - Portugal: Cascais (Topic)

Cidadela de Cascais 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 Cidadela de Cascais.

Photo and description

The Cascais Citadel was built around 1488 by King Joao II. The small medieval fortress was unable to repel an attack by the Spanish troops led by the Duke of Alba, who captured the village in 1580, and this military conflict led to the unification of the Portuguese and Spanish crowns. The Iberian Union was signed, and Philip II of Spain was proclaimed and crowned King of Portugal, Philip I. During his reign, the fortress was rebuilt, becoming a typical citadel of the Renaissance.

In 1807, during the occupation of Portugal by Napoleon's troops, the citadel of Cascais was captured by the French led by General Junot, who remained in the village for some time. During the reign of King Louis II, from 1870 to 1908, one of the citadel buildings was the summer residence of the royal family and the small fishing village became very popular after that. In 1878, by order of King Louis II, electricity was installed in the citadel. Thus, Cascais became the first city in the country to have electricity. The village began to expand, the roads to Lisbon and Sintra were improved, many noble families built beautiful mansions on the coast. The infrastructure improved, and a railway appeared in 1889. In 1896, King Carlos I placed the first oceanographic laboratory in the citadel and personally conducted 12 scientific expeditions.

Today, the citadel also retained the role of a summer residence for the President. A small open-air artillery museum is open to visitors in the garden.

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Topic: Citadel of Cascais (Cidadela de Cascais) description and photos - Portugal: Cascais.