Fuerte de Santa Tecla, Colonial fortress in Bagé, Brazil
The Fuerte de Santa Tecla is a fortress with pentagonal stone and masonry walls surrounded by a moat about 9 meters (30 feet) wide, located near the banks of the Rio Negro. The remaining stone foundations reveal the military construction methods used in this border region during the colonial period.
Built in 1774 under Spanish command, the fortress served military control along a border region. It endured multiple sieges and reconstructions before being definitively destroyed by Portuguese forces in 1801.
The fortress takes its name from Saint Thecla, reflecting the strong Catholic traditions of the colonial era in the region. This choice shows how faith and military purpose were intertwined during the settlement period.
The fortress remains are protected as cultural heritage by Brazil's National Institute for Historical and Artistic Heritage since 1970. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear as the foundations are uneven and situated along the riverbank.
The fortress occupied a strategic location where several rivers originate, making it possible to control movements between Portuguese and Spanish territories. This position made it a crucial outpost for the powers contending over the region.
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