Fort of Olheiros, 19th-century fort in Portugal
The Fort of Olheiros is a small fortification near Torres Vedras situated on a hill roughly 105 meters above sea level. The structure has seven sides, measures about 45 meters by 19 meters, features eleven gun positions, an ammunition storage room, and is surrounded by a dry moat that served as a barrier against enemy approach.
The fort was constructed between 1809 and 1810 by soldiers under the command of the Duke of Wellington and served as position 23 of the Lines of Torres Vedras, part of a defensive system stretching over 80 kilometers. After European conflicts ended, the fortification was disarmed and abandoned in 1818, with restoration work conducted in the mid-20th century and again in 2011 using European funding.
The site is also known as Fort Canudo and was part of the Lines of Torres Vedras, a defense system created to protect Lisbon during the Napoleonic Wars. Local people and visitors connect this place to stories of defense and regional resilience that remain important in their collective memory.
The site is easily accessible and not far from local roads, so you can visit without special equipment and will find marked paths and information signs throughout. The location works well for a quiet walk and can be explored together with the nearby Fort of São Vicente.
A former windmill site was incorporated into the fortification structure and was used to grind grain, a detail showing how civilian and military functions overlapped. This adaptation of existing infrastructure reveals the practical approach builders took when designing this defensive installation.
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