Neumann, Hans-Rudolf Portugal. Fortifikatorischer Exkursionsbericht einer Studienreise vom 20. bis 28.09.2025

Military architecture is an important part of Portugal's architectural and artistic heritage. Both medieval and modern fortifications can be found along the coast and in the border regions. At 1,214 kilometres, the border between Spain and Portugal is the longest between two countries in the European Union. The border area is called A Raia or the strip in Portuguese. Strong coastal fortifications also protected the country from invasions by enemy naval forces on the Atlantic Ocean. Until the 20th century, a dense network of coastal batteries protected the capital Lisbon. The Torre de Belém fortress tower was regarded worldwide as a model for securing Portuguese possessions. The study trip led by the author with international participants took place from 20 to 28 September 2025. First, the coastal fortifications in Lisbon and Peniche were visited, with a detour to the defensive structures of Torres Vedras. This was followed by a full-day stay at the World Heritage fortress of Elvas. The city also served as a starting point for visits to the three Raia fortresses of Marvao, Almeida and Valenca do Minho, which are considered World Heritage candidates. The return journey via Porto included further visits to fortifications in the coastal area. The experiences of the tour are recorded in the documentation.