# Forte de Albarquel - en

By ["Trradutorr"](https://paragraph.com/@trradutorr) · 2023-06-10

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Versão [portuguesa](https://mirror.xyz/0x9Ee8427b516617743dA7Fb127ea4ee15cC72b5a8/V53LsXfb9nOPcA58FZGyScbo0ZO4NP6zT-xKDm_JJtc) aqui.

GPS 38.51108444178015, -8.913378457960716

By order of King D. João IV (1640-1656), the construction of the Fort of Albarquel began to be designed in 1642, starting the work in the following year (1643) which ended already in the reign of Pedro II of Portugal. Portugal (1683-1706).

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/c3ff0b0c256ac391f86f592df124814b47570812566e185d34fa9cc8fff39528.jpg)

This fort was intended to reinforce the fire capacity of the Fortress of S. Filipe and was part of the kingdom's military defense strategy in protecting the [Setúbal](https://mirror.xyz/madeinpt.eth/4Lsu_6jccO424mhTOMahRYLuNHoQ5g1X7xuFyuX2JoM) bar.

The Fort of Albarquel was dismantled in 1883. In the first half of the 20th century, an underground fortification was built on the adjacent land, equipped with barracks, a water tank, storerooms and a power station, with a camouflage device and three Krupp cannons, of 150mm. Until 1999, the unit incorporated the 8th Battery of the extinct Coastal Artillery Regiment, of the Portuguese Army.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/7cabaf53ac08625c8395ae8681c97632116ce3ca7d0bc21e27f979cb17d8a574.png)

On June 21, 2001, the process of decommissioning the public military domain of the Fort of Albarquel, as well as a portion of land included in the public water domain, began, allowing the subsequent transfer of use of the property to the [Municipality of Setúbal](https://mirror.xyz/0x9Ee8427b516617743dA7Fb127ea4ee15cC72b5a8/wI5CfCkevRpVr56gv2kgGOFMPy6BJuRy1Ykj-BphfnY), which He took office in 2015.

This was followed by the respective recovery and requalification as a museum nucleus, also adapting it to carry out cultural activities, tourist support and environmental awareness.

**ARCHITECTURE**

Forte de Albarquel corresponds to the paradigm of Portuguese military architecture from the 17th century. It is a fortified building with a trapezoidal plan, with a two-story building. This building also had a small bastion at the southeast apex and a guardhouse at the south.

![Albarquel Beach in the 1950s: in the background, the fort.](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/dda83e725969c2d5cc9c77d6aac24774ca5d901742e1fad351175f447765a7cb.png)

Albarquel Beach in the 1950s: in the background, the fort.

The fort presents itself with a “floor style”, which is characterized by its decorative remains, a sober and imposing type of construction, with a military aspect. Of the few adornments in the building, the friezes, the entablatures, the gargoyles and the detail of the exterior staircase stand out.

No interior, as coberturas são em abóbada e em plano direito.

![Fort of Albarquel, Portugal: plan from the 18th century.](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/47113441fb94510f52dc65e84c48e7ad53efe5c9662ef4b85a5f794a464f0707.jpg)

Fort of Albarquel, Portugal: plan from the 18th century.

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*Originally published on ["Trradutorr"](https://paragraph.com/@trradutorr/forte-de-albarquel-en)*