Fort São João Baptista of Esposente
Fort São João Baptista of Esposende, also referred to as São João Baptista Castle and Esposende Fort, is located in the parish of Esposende, Marinhas e Gandra, city and municipality of Esposende, in the district of Braga, in Portugal.
A coastal fort, originally built with the role of defending the mouth of the river Cávado.
History
Built between 1699 and 1704, under the reign of Peter II of Portugal (1667-1706), it features an irregular star-shaped plan, with a bulwark at each edge, and the respective hexagonal sentry box.[1] On its embankment stood the service buildings, especially an 18th-century chapel.
With the construction of the lighthouse, it suffered some modifications to its structure, and is now a rectangle with only two bulwarks and respective guardhouse at each of its angles.[1]
Four buildings of rectangular and quadrangular plan integrate it, with hipped roofs, of one floor, in ruins by 2019.[1]
In 1866, a lenticular light was installed on the fort, and the current seven meter tall tower was commissioned to the Barbier, Bénard & Turenne company in 1925, being installed in April 10 of that year.[1]
1866, Dezembro - instalação de um farolim lenticular montado num candelabro; 1883 - elaboração e aprovação pela Comissão de Faróis e balizas, do Projecto de alumiamento e balizagem dos portos do Continente do Reino, onde se previa a colocação de uma luz de porto, em Esposende; 1913 - an Associação Comercial e Industrial de Esposende informava o Ministro da Marinha que o actual farolim deveria ser substituido por um farol com vantagem de alcance luminoso; 1922
On the southwest side stands the lighthouse, with a cylindrical iron tower, on a circular cement base, with a lantern and service balcony, painted red. Adjoining the lighthouse is a rectangular building, with two floors painted yellow, for the lighthouse keepers.[1]
It has been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1982.[1]
In September 2020, the Esposende City Council paid the Portuguese government 204 thousand euros for the rights over the fort, for a period of 50 years. In addition to cleaning work, two of the four buildings formerly intended for support services to the Lighthouse, created and installed in the area of the Fort, in the 20th century, were intervened, allowing citizens to enjoy the space. The contract provides for the investment of 1.5 million euros in the renovation of the property.
After the fort was handed over to the Municipality of Esposende, small interventions were carried out to organize exhibitions and cultural activities.
In March 2022, the Municipality of Esposende launched the public contest for the rehabilitation project of the fort, in the approximate amount of 260 thousand euros, with the object of elaborating the architectural and special projects based on the creation of conditions for public use, having as main service the installation of the North Coast Interpretive Center.[2]
Gallery
- Sentry box overlooking the Cávado.
- Side view.
- Gateway.
-
- View from the river.
- Far view
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Forte de São João Baptista / Farol de Esposende / Castelo de São João Baptista / Forte de Esposende at http://www.monumentos.gov.pt/
- ^ CÁVADO: Esposende avança para a reabilitação do Forte de S. João, 04/03/2022, at ominho.pt.
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- São João Baptista
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 | |
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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)