Praça-forte de Elvas, Military fortress in Elvas, Portugal
The Praça-forte de Elvas is a fortified complex with seven bastions and sixteen fronts arranged across a polygonal layout. The defense system includes deep moats, thick stone walls, and connected gun positions that work together as multiple layers of protection.
Construction began in the late 1600s under King João IV to defend the border with Spain during a period of war. The fortress remained strategically important for more than a century as it resisted multiple attacks and proved its value to the kingdom.
The fortress shows how Portuguese builders created defenses and what methods they chose for protecting borders. The bastions and walls tell of a time when such military structures were vital for a kingdom's survival.
You can explore the fortress complex by walking through the bastions, walls, and former military buildings at your own pace. Wear comfortable shoes as the terrain is uneven with many steps and pathways between the different defense sections.
The fortress became famous for a siege where a small garrison held out against a vastly larger attacking force. This resistance became legendary and showed the determination of Portuguese soldiers during their fight for independence.
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