Fort of Cão
The Fort of Cão (Forte do Cão in Portuguese), also referred to as Fortlet of Cão (Fortim do Cão in Portuguese), is located in the place of Gelfa, by the Gelfa Beach and Gelfa Woodland, south of the village and parish of Âncora, in the municipality of Caminha, district of Viana do Castelo, in Portugal.[1][2]
History
It was one of four forts built during the reign of King Peter II on the coast between Caminha and Viana do Castelo with the aim of strengthening the defense of the Atlantic coast of Alto Minho, vulnerable to possible attacks by pirates or the Spanish Armada, after the end of the War of Restoration of Independence (1640-1668).[1] The others were the Forte de Vinha, in Areosa, the Fort of Montedor in Carreço, and the Forte of Lagarteira in Vila Praia de Âncora. These were added to the Ínsua Fort, built during that conflict to defend the southern bar of the Minho River.
At the line, existing fortifications such as the Fortress of Valença, the Castle of Vila Nova de Cerveira and the Fort Santiago da Barra were renovated. To complement the defense of the left (south) bank of the Minho River, the Fort São Francisco de Lovelhe was built in Vila Nova de Cerveira.
The Cão fort was built between 1699 and 1702, with the function of defending that stretch of coast, at the mouth of the Âncora river, helping the defense provided by the Caminha stronghold.[1]
It was deactivated in 1716, and its garrison withdrawn, though it maintained a commander.[3]
It is registered as a Property of Public Interest by Decree No. 47,508, published in DG No. 20, of January 24, 1967, rectified in DG No. 59, of March 10, 1967, and by Decree No. 95/78, published in DR No. 210, of September 12, 1978.[1][3]
Features
A coastal bastion fort, of small dimensions and simple features, it has a star-shaped plan in the Mannerist style, consisting of four unequal bastions.[3] The side facing the sea is curved, the opposite side being concave.[3] In this one, the gate-of-arms consists of a perfect arch.[3] In its interior were the service dependencies, around a courtyard that formed a corridor in the center of the fort.[3]
Its structural typology presents similarities with the forts of Areosa and Montedor, whose plan constituted, at the time, an advance in the defense and watch system.[3] It is believed that this set of coastal forts may have been designed by the same architect.[3]
Gallery
References
- ^ a b c d e Forte do Cão - Âncora at cm-caminha.pt
- ^ Praia da Gelfa / Forte do Cão at visitportugal.com
- ^ a b c d e f g h Forte do Cão / Fortim do Cão at monumentos.gov.pt
- v
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Branco
- Forte de Ponte de Alvito
- Fortress of Buarcos
- Santa Catarina
- Palheiros Fort
- Estremoz
- Juromenha
- Santo António da Piedade
- Fort of Mourão
- São Luís
- Fort of Arrifana
- Santa Catarina
- São João do Arade
- Nossa Senhora da Encarnação
- Nossa Senhora da Luz
- Nossa Senhora da Penha de França
- Cavaleiros de Santiago
- São Sebastião de Castro Marim
- Fort of Sagres
- Nossa Senhora da Guia
- São Roque
- São Vicente
- Santo António de Tavira
- São João da Barra
- Vera Cruz
- Burgau Fort
- Santo António de Belixe
- Nossa Senhora da Rocha
- São Francisco
- Nossa Senhora da Consolação
- São João Baptista das Berlengas
- São Miguel Arcanjo
- São Vicente
- Bom Sucesso
- Santo António da Barra
- São Lourenço do Bugio
- Nossa Senhora da Luz
- Fort of Guincho
- Nossa Senhora da Guia
- Santa Susana
- São João das Maias
- São Bruno
- Nossa Senhora de Porto Salvo
- São Pedro de Milreu
- Nossa Senhora dos Anjos
- Nossa Senhora das Mercês
- Fort of Sacavém
- São Jorge
- São Julião da Barra
- São Pedro do Estoril
- São Teodósio
- Santa Marta
- Santo Amaro
- Nossa Senhora da Natividade
- Santa Apolónia
- São Brás de Sanxete
- Fort of Cresmina
Lines of Torres Vedras | |
---|---|
Campo Entrincheirado |
Castelo
- Areosa Fort
- Fort of Cão
- Nossa Senhora da Ínsua
- Fort of Lagarteira
- Montedor Fort
- Monção
- Santiago da Barra
- São Francisco de Lovelhe
- Valença
- Fort of the Açougue (Terceira)
- Fort of the Cavalas (Terceira)
- Fort of the Church of São Mateus da Calheta (Terceira)
- Fort of Cinco Ribeiras (Terceira)
- Espírito Santo (Terceira)
- Fort of the Caninas (Terceira)
- Nossa Senhora da Guia (Faial)
- Fort of Greta (Terceira)
- Fort of Má Ferramenta (Terceira)
- Fort of the Maré (Terceira)
- Military Battery of Espalamaca (Faial)
- Fort of Negrito (Terceira)
- Dois Paus redoubt (Terceira)
- São João Baptista (Terceira)
- Reducto da Salga (Terceira)
- Três Paus redoubt (Terceira)
- Forte da Salga (Terceira)
- Santa Catarina das Mós (Terceira)
- Santa Cruz (Faial)
- Santo António (Terceira)
- Santo António do Monte Brasil (Terceira)
- São Brás (Santa Maria)
- São Fernando (Terceira)
- São Francisco (Terceira)
- São João (Terceira)
- São João Baptista (Santa Maria)
- São Mateus da Calheta (Terceira)
- São Sebastião (Terceira)
- Forte do Terreiro (Terceira)
- Zimbreiro Fort (Terceira)
- São João Baptista (Pico)
- Nossa Senhora do Amparo (Madeira)
- São José (Porto Santo)
- São Lourenço (Madeira)
- São Tiago (Madeira)