The Fort of Santo António de Belixe (Fort of Saint Anthony of Beliche), which is also referred to as the Fortress of Beliche (Portuguese: Fortaleza de Belixe), is located on Cape St. Vincent in the parish of Sagres, municipality of Vila do Bispo, Faro District, in Portugal. The original date of construction is unknown but the fort was already in existence in the 16th Century.

History

Situated on the top of the cliff that, at an altitude of 86 metres, dominates the Bay of Beliche (or Belixe), the fort certainly already existed in the 16th Century as it contains the Coat of Arms of King Sebastian (1554-1578). Because of its strategic position at the southwest tip of Portugal it has been assumed that the site had been used for military purposes since ancient times, although there is no archaeological evidence to that effect. One theory is that the fort was built by order of King Manuel I (1469-1521), who lived at the nearby Cape St. Vincent at the beginning of the 16th Century. The fortress follows a structure common to the military architecture of the time, with a star-shaped polygonal plan, with batteries facing the sea. A long staircase gives access to the beach. Within the grounds of the fort is a small chapel, which was originally dedicated to Saint Catherine but is now dedicated to Saint Anthony.

In 1578, the English sea captain Francis Drake, regarded as a privateer by the Portuguese, attacked the fort and caused serious damage, leading to significant reconstruction work under the instructions of Philip III of Portugal, which was not completed until 1632. This remains the basis of the existing structure, despite it having been significantly damaged by the 1755 earthquake.

Around 1960 the fort was adapted to be used as a tourist facility. At that time, important areas of the interior were also remodeled and some sections were rebuilt. Although well-integrated into the fort this new feature could do nothing to prevent the continued erosion of the cliff on which the fortress stands. For safety reasons the facility closed in the 1990s. Work to address the erosion problem is ongoing, with the involvement of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Algarve. Of particular concern is the Chapel. At the end of 1997 the Baroque altarpiece was transferred to the Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça, in the nearby Fortress of Sagres.

Ownership of the fort passed to the municipality of Vila do Bispo in 2012, for the sum of just €4000.

Fortaleza de Belixe

Account

by category

Login

Name

by region

Title

Name in English

This fortress was built in the 16th century in order to protect the coast from the frequent attacks by Moorish pirates. It stands on the site of an earlier medieval convent, which, legend has it, is supposed to have housed the mortal remains of São Vicente (St Vincent).

It is a military construction with a polygonal floor plan, with a gateway crowned by the royal shield and which once had a drawbridge.

Inside the fortress can be seen the lighthouse of São Vicente which was built in 1904 and is still in operation today.


https://www.visitalgarve.pt

Fortaleza de São Vicente

The Fort of Sagres is located on a dramatic, narrow headland that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean to form Portugal's most south-westerly point. It dates back to the 15th Century, a time when the Portuguese coast was often the target of raids from the Barbary pirates who heralded from the nearby North African shores.

The Fortaleza de Sagres was built on the orders of Henry the Navigator (Infante D. Henrique), one of the chief drivers in what became known as the Age of Discoveries.  Henry spent much of his time here before setting off on his voyages upon which he was the first European to discover the Azores and large parts of the African coastline. Before the Age of Discoveries, many Europeans had been scared to venture too far out into the Atlantic out of fear that, among other things, sea monsters existed that would swallow their ships whole.

Henry also has the dubious claim of being the founder of the Atlantic slave trade.

Years after Henry’s death here in 1460, the fort was raided by the English sailor and adventurer Sir Francis Drake, but it was the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 1755 that almost destroyed the fortress. It is hard to imagine today, but the tsunami caused the sea to crash over the high cliffs here, causing devastation in its path. 

Today, the walls and impressive entrance arch which stretch across the headland are all that remain of the original building. However, the fort was restored in the 20th century and is now one of Sagres' most popular attractions. Visitors can learn about the fort's history from the various signs dotted around the area, and walk around the outcrop, enjoying the panoramic views over the Atlantic Ocean and the rugged Cabo de Vincent coastline.


https://www.travel-in-portugal.com

Fortaleza de Sagres

The Castle of Senhora da Luz (Portuguese: Castelo da Senhora da Luz/Fortaleza de Nossa senhora da Luz) is a former-medieval castle/fort in the civil parish of Luz, municipality of Lagos in the Portuguese Algarve, classified as a Property of Public Interest (Imóvel de Interesse Público).

History

The fort is one of the most important examples of 17th century military architecture on the Algarve coast; it illustrates the Portuguese Restoration's concern to provide defense to the southern territory.  Although there were fortifications in the region before 1640, there are few remnants.

It is unclear when the first primitive stronghold was constructed on the site: a medieval fortress built in 1575. During the course of the construction, a circular watchtower was erected within the fortress in 1624.

The first fortification along Ponta da Calheta occurred during the Philippine Dynasty, and its ongoing construction is seen as an extension of Spanish policy to protect the Algarve when the great European armadas and privateers pillaged Spanish/Portuguese fleets. The modern fort has little of these Philippine influences: it is the product of a vast process of militarization and fortification of the country, following the Portuguese Restoration of Independence (1640) and the Wars then carried out by the two peninsular kingdoms.

Unlike the small watchtower, the post-Restoration changes saw the construction of a stronghold. The polygonal plan, with four angular bastions defines the typical irregular quadrilateral approaching the star-shape fortresses used in numerous other fortifications. The fact that the works lasted until (at least) 1670 is an indicator of the importance of this fortress and the care with which it was built. Unfortunately, its current state belies the grand project of the 16th century. The walls, which were initially 5 metres (16 ft) high, were partially submerged by sand dunes (except to the sea). Its interior was also occupied by a two-story, eclectic building that functioned as a restaurant.

Decades of construction and remodelling in the interior have washed-away the real organization of the interior spaces that in 1821 incorporated two great pavilions.

Architecture

The 200 square metres (2,200 sq ft) fort is situated on Ponta da Calheta in an isolated, urban area extending out to the south and west over the sea. To the east is a roadway and to the north urban buildings, while to the northeast is the Church of Nossa Senhora da Luz.

The polygonal castle includes bastions at its angles, with articulated volumes covered in tile and northern central doorway.

The interior of the primitive military construction were repurposed for tourist use.