List of forts of the Lines of Torres Vedras explained

The Lines of Torres Vedras were lines of forts and other military defences built in secrecy to defend Lisbon, capital of Portugal, from the French during the Peninsular War. Named after the town of Torres Vedras, their construction was ordered by the commander of the British troops, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. The Lines were declared a National Heritage by the Portuguese Government in March 2019.^[1]

In total, 152 military works were carried out from October 1809 to 1812 by Portuguese workers supervised by British engineers. Most involved completely new constructions, although some existing structures, such as the castle at Torres Vedras, were adapted and it was also common to incorporate existing hilltop windmills in the designs. Some of the forts remain visible and 29 are maintained by the municipalities of Torres Vedras, Arruda dos Vinhos, Loures, Mafra, Sobral de Monte Agraço, and Vila Franca de Xira.^[2] Much restoration work was carried out to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Lines.

Forts

	Indicates restored and maintained fort

Number	Name	District	Men	Guns
1A	Battery of Tejo	Alhandra	1,000	4
1B	Entrenchments			2
1C	Battery of Estrada			1
1D	Battery of Estrada			2
1E	Battery of Estrada Real			7
1F	Battery of Subida			2
2	Battery of Conde		800	2
3	Redoubt of Boa Vista		200	2
4	Battery of São Fernando			2
5	Redoubt Serra do Formoso		120	3
5A	Battery of Antas			2
5B	Battery 1a of Alfarge			2
5C	Battery 2a of Alfarge			3
5D	Battery 1a of Bulhaco			2
5E	Battery 2a of Bulhaco			2
5F	Battery 1a of Serra do Pinheiro			2
5G	Battery 2a of Serra do Pinheiro			1
6	Battery of Meldros			2
7	Fort of Calhandriz		200	3
8	Fort of Trancoso		200	3
9	Fort of Casal do Cego		280	3
10	Fort of Carvalha		400	3
11	Fort of Moinho do Céu		300	4
12	Fort of Passo	Sobral	120	3
13	Fort of Caneira		120	2
14	Fort of Alqueidão		1,590	25
15	Fort of Machado		460	7
16	Fort of Trinta		250	4
17	Fort of Simplício		300	8
18	Fort of Ajuda Grande	Bucelas	300	4
19	Fort of Ajuda Pequeno	Bucelas	200	3
20	Fort of São Vicente	Torres Vedras	470	8
21	Fort of São Vicente		270	7/9
22	Fort of São Vicente		380	9
23	Redoubt of Olheiros		180	7
24	Redoubt of Forca		300	7
25	Fort of São João		200	2
26	Fort of Ordasqueira		300	3
27	Castle of Torres Vedras		500	5
28	Fort Pequeno da Enxara	Portela	270	3
29	Fort Grande da Enxara	Portela	280	4
30	Redoubt of Grilo	Torres Vedras	340	4
31	Redoubt of Alquiteria		370	3
32	Fort of Formigal		260	4
33	Fort of Salgado	Bucelas	300	4
34	Fort of Curral		200	3
35	Redoubt of Quintela Pequeno		120	4
36	Redoubt of Quintela Grande		370	9
37	Fort of Abrunheira		50	3
38	Fort of Casa		340	5
39	Fort of Quintela Reentrante		340	8
40	Fort of Aguieira		150
41	Redoubt of Portela Grande		240	5
42	Fort of Portela Pequeno		350	6
43	Battery of Vizo		4
44	Battery of Cachada		2
45	Battery of Penedos		3
46	Battery of Oliveiras		2
47	Battery of Galvões		3
48	Fort of Tojal		200	2
49	Fort of Picoto	Montachique		2
50	Redoubt of Quadradinho		160	2
51	Fort of Freixial		300	4
52	Fort of Capitão		190	3
53	Fort of Presinheira		230	2
54	Fort of Moinho		210	0
55	Fort of Vale		150	3
56	Fort of Permouro	Mafra	150	2
57	Fort of Mosqueiro	Montachique	270	3
58	Fort of Carrascal		310	3
59	Fort of Moinho da Carambela		260	4
60	Redoubt of Achada 1		150	2
61	Redoubt of Achada 2		190	2
62	Fort of Alto do Cheira		390	3
63	Fort of Casal da Serra		280	3
64	Fort of Canto do Muro da Tapada		210	3
65	Fort of Santa Maria		270	3
66	Fort of Feira		350	4
67	Fort of Cabeço Gordo		120	2
68	Fort of Matoutinho		260	4
69	Fort of Quinta do Fidalgo		240	4
70	Fort of Quinta do Estrangeiro		240	6
71	Fort of Portela		240	4
72	Fort of Estrada		130	2
73	Fort of Coutada		340	3
74	Fort of Casal da Pedra	Mafra	190	2
75	Fort of Milhariça		70	2
76	Fort of Sonível		390	4
77	Fort of Juncal		380	4
78	Fort of Telhadouro		110	3
79	Fort of Gio		270	3
80	Fort of Quinta da Boa Viagem		310	3
81	Fort of Serra de Chipre		280	3
82	Fort of Patarata		210	4
83	Fort of Meio		240	3
84	Fort of Curral do Linho		290	3
85	Fort of Areeiro		290	3
86	Fort of Nossa Senhora da Paz		280	3
87	Fort of Pinheiro		340	3
88	Fort of Cabeço do Neto		200	3
89	Fort of Moxarro		310	3
90	Fort of Penegache		230	3
91	Fort of Algoa		200	3
92	Fort of Picoto		180	3
93	Fort of Marvão		330	3
94	Fort of Ribamar		320	2
95	Fort of Zambujal		250	2
96	Fort of Carvoeira		280	3
97	Fort of São Julião		350	2
98	Fort of Algueirão	São Julião	1,340	26
99	Battery of Arieiro		70	6
100	Battery of Estrada		50	5
101	Redoubt no.1 of Medrosa		250	10
102	Redoubt no.2 of Medrosa		260	8
103	Redoubt no.1 of Antas		130	3
104	Redoubt no.2 of Antas		100	2
105	Redoubt no.3 of Antas		170	2/4
106	Redoubt of Lomba		320	6
107	Redoubt of Quinta Nova		800	6
108	Redoubt of Junqueiro		360	6
109	Redoubt of Figueirinha		500	8
110	Fortified line 103–coast		1,000	3
111	Fort of Passo	Torres Vedras	250	5
112	Fort of Gentias		220	4
113	Battery of Foz		50	2
114	Fort no.1 of Subserra	Alhandra	100	2/3
114A	Battery Nova de Subserra		100	2
115	Fort no.2 of Subserra		100	2
116	Fort no.3 of Subserra		100	5
116A	Battery annex for Fort no.3 of Subserra
116B	Battery do Casal da Entrega			4
117	Redoubt Novo da Costa da Freiria		150
118	Fort of Sinais		400	8
119	Redoubt of Dois Moinhos		350	6
119A
119B	Fort of Subida da Serra	Alhandra		2
120	Fort Novo do Formoso		130	2
121	Fort no.1 of Calhandriz		250	4
122	Fort no.2 of Calhandriz		300	3
123	Fort no.3 of Calhandriz		300	4
124	Fort no.4 of Calhandriz	Montachique	350	4
124A	Battery of Calhandriz		350	2
125	Fort of Serra de Arpim		250	4
126	Fort Novo do Cabo	Bucelas	188	2
127	Fort of Moinho	Bucelas	154
128	Fort of Archeira	Portela	500	6
129	Fort of Feiteira		350	6
130	Fort of Catefica		200	5
131	Battery of Cruz	Torres Vedras	90	4
132	Battery of Palheiros		150	6
133	Battery of Pedrulhos		120	4
134	Battery of Outeiro da Prata		110	4
135	Battery of Carrasqueira		160	4
136	Battery of Milharosa		150	4
137	Battery of Outeiro da França		100	4
138	Battery of Pombal		100	2
139	Battery of Bordinheira		160	4
140	Battery of Outeiro do Monte		120	4
141	Battery of Mogo		180	4
142	Battery of Bonabal		150	4
143	Fort of Galpeira		150	4
144	Battery of Mouguelas		130	4
145	Fort of Belmonte		250	4
146	Fort of Bececarias		250	6
147	Battery of Ponte do Rol I		0	rowspan=2
148	Battery of Ponte do Rol II		0
149	Fort Novo da Ordasqueira		250	6
150	Battery of Ribaldeira	Portela	250	6
151	Redoubt of Patameira	Portela	300
152	Fort Novo	Sobral	250	6

References

Book: Thompson, Mark S.. 2021. Wellington and the Lines of Torres Vedras. Warwick. Helion. 978-1-914059-85-8.

External links

- Friends of the Lines of Torres Vedras
British Historical Society of Portugal, which organizes regular guided visits to the forts.
Photographs and map of fort locations

Notes and References

Web site: Governo classifica Linhas de Torres Vedras como monumento nacional . Observador . 30 March 2019.
Web site: Forts restored and maintained by the Municipalities . Friends of the Lines of Torres Vedras . 1 September 2019.