By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
The wandersThe wandersThe wanders
  • Home
  • countries
  • Destinations
    • Luxury Escape
    • Healing Escapes
    • Wikio
    • Beach Hunter
    • Adventure Travel
    • Surfing Destinations
    • Ski destinations
    • Slow Travel Moments
    • Rail Journeys
    • Photography destinations
    • Urban exploration
    • Motorsport destinations
    • Military Heritage
    • Architecture
    • Historical travel
    • Dive & snorkel sites
    • Movie Sets
    • Discover
    • Protected areas
    • Abandoned places
    • routes and trails
    • PeakFinder
    • Spiritual and Pilgrimage Travel
    • Points of Interest & Spotlights
    • Overlanding
  • Sights & Landmarks
    • Natural wonders
      • Caves
      • Thermal Springs/Spas
      • Lakes
      • Canyons and gorges
      • mountains
      • Waterfalls
      • Volcanoes
      • Rock formations
      • Sand dunes
    • Castles
    • bridges
    • Canals – waterways
    • Lighthouses
Reading: Fort of São João Baptista das Berlengas
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Font ResizerAa
The wandersThe wanders
  • Travel
Search
  • Home
  • countries
  • Destinations
    • Luxury Escape
    • Healing Escapes
    • Wikio
    • Beach Hunter
    • Adventure Travel
    • Surfing Destinations
    • Ski destinations
    • Slow Travel Moments
    • Rail Journeys
    • Photography destinations
    • Urban exploration
    • Motorsport destinations
    • Military Heritage
    • Architecture
    • Historical travel
    • Dive & snorkel sites
    • Movie Sets
    • Discover
    • Protected areas
    • Abandoned places
    • routes and trails
    • PeakFinder
    • Spiritual and Pilgrimage Travel
    • Points of Interest & Spotlights
    • Overlanding
  • Sights & Landmarks
    • Natural wonders
    • Castles
    • bridges
    • Canals – waterways
    • Lighthouses
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
The wanders > Blog > Destinations > Military Heritage > Fort of São João Baptista das Berlengas
Military HeritagePortugal

Fort of São João Baptista das Berlengas

outdoor explorer
Last updated: November 2, 2020 11:15 pm
outdoor explorer
Byoutdoor explorer
senior editor
Follow:
November 2, 2020
1.1k Views
4 Min Read
SHARE
The Fort of São João Baptista das Berlengas , or  Fortaleza de las Berlengas , is located on the island of Berlenga Grande, in the archipelago of the Berlengas, integrating the defensive complex of Peniche, in the district of Leiria, in western coast of Portugal.
The construction of this fort was first ordered by King Manuel I of Portugal in 1502. However, construction did not really begin until 1651 during the reign of King João IV of Portugal. In 1678, the construction of this fort was completed. The fortress was built from the remains of the previously abandoned Misericórdia da Berlenga Monastery.
The fort is located in the waters of the southeast coast of Berlenga Grande, on a small islet connected to the island by a causeway with an arched bridge and an anchorage to the north. The fort has an irregular octagonal polygon shape. On the embankment, on the side facing the island, it presents the main two-story building, with twelve rooms where the service units used to work (Command House, Troop Barracks, Warehouses, Kitchen and others) and eight more compartments inscribed in inside the walls. An unlit corridor gives internal access to the different points of the structure. towards the sea there are eleven cannon embrasures.
In the middle of the 20th century, the fort was partially restored and opened to tourism, adapted as an inn, Today it has a restaurant and a hotel with a capacity for 50 people.

Access : Coordinates: 39.411239, -9.510117 /The Berlengas Islands are located 10 km from Peniche, a small town located on the coast, about an hour’s drive from Lisbon. Take a boat from the town of Peniche, which is approximately 20 minutes from the islands. Price € 20.

Contents
The Fort of São João Baptista das Berlengas , or  Fortaleza de las Berlengas , is located on the island of Berlenga Grande, in the archipelago of the Berlengas, integrating the defensive complex of Peniche, in the district of Leiria, in western coast of Portugal.The construction of this fort was first ordered by King Manuel I of Portugal in 1502. However, construction did not really begin until 1651 during the reign of King João IV of Portugal. In 1678, the construction of this fort was completed. The fortress was built from the remains of the previously abandoned Misericórdia da Berlenga Monastery. The fort is located in the waters of the southeast coast of Berlenga Grande, on a small islet connected to the island by a causeway with an arched bridge and an anchorage to the north. The fort has an irregular octagonal polygon shape. On the embankment, on the side facing the island, it presents the main two-story building, with twelve rooms where the service units used to work (Command House, Troop Barracks, Warehouses, Kitchen and others) and eight more compartments inscribed in inside the walls. An unlit corridor gives internal access to the different points of the structure. towards the sea there are eleven cannon embrasures. In the middle of the 20th century, the fort was partially restored and opened to tourism, adapted as an inn, Today it has a restaurant and a hotel with a capacity for 50 people.

Highlights :

  •  The fortress has a plan in the form of an irregular heptagonal polygon. On the embankment, the part facing the island, presents the main building with two floors, with twelve compartments where the service areas operated (Casa de la Comandancia – Command House,  of the troop, shops, kitchen and others) and eight registered magazines on walls. A corridor without light gives access to various points within the structure.towards the sea there are eleven cannon embrasures.
  • Although no one knows the exact date when the works started as early as 1655, when it was still under construction, it successfully withstood its first assault while being bombarded by three Turkish-flagged ships.
  •  The Berlengas Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean, about ten kilometers off the coast of Peniche, The Berlengas Islands, a natural reserve and pride of Portugal
  •  With no greater military value, in view of the evolution of military means in the 19th century, it was dismantled (1847) and abandoned and started to be used as a support base for fishing.

Activities : sightseeing / Hiking trails ,Berlenga Grande is easily covered on foot. / Discover the natural charm of the Berlengas Islands / snorkeling in the Atlantic Ocean or taking a glass-bottom boat ride through the caves and grottos of the Berlengas Islands.
/ Kayak : You can rent a kayak and explore the island’s caves on your own.

Go next : The Peniche, a charming seaside town – The Peniche Fortress is a place worth visiting,  for its spectacular views over the Atlantic / the rock formation “the elephant”

Ponta de São Lourenço: Madeira Island’s Dramatic Coastal Gem
Praia de Nossa Senhora do Mar
Azenhas do Mar
Adraga beach
Castelo de Óbidos
TAGGED:Portugal
Share This Article
Facebook Pinterest Email
Previous Article Dishan-Kala,Outer walls of the old city of Khiva
Next Article Gamcheon Culture Village

Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Popular
The submerged forest is located in Lake Traful , a lake in the Los Lagos Department , a province of Argentina, located in the west of the country, at the northern end of Patagonia.
ArgentinaDive & snorkel sites

Traful’s mysterious Submerged Forest

outdoor explorer
outdoor explorer
February 18, 2024
Lover’s Beach
The Scenic Cathedral Cove , a New Zealand Must Do
Saunders Beach , a serene and authentic Beach in Nassau
Diamond Beach , Iceland

You Might Also Like

PortugalSlow Travel Moments

Santana ,Madeira

November 23, 2023
Castles

Castle of Guimarães

June 12, 2025
CastlesPortugal

Discover the Castle of the Moors: A Timeless Fortress in Sintra

September 2, 2024
Ursa Beach - Praia da Ursa is a wonderful Scenic is the westernmost european beach near to Cabo da Roca cape , Portugal.
Beach HunterPortugal

Ursa Beach

October 14, 2023
Show More

Categories

  • Travel News & Trends
  • Travel Essentials
  • Followme
  • Featured
  • Experiences

About Us

Welcome to The Wanders, your trusted companion and expert guide in unlocking the breathtaking beauty, rich history, and vibrant cultures of Europe.

Legal

  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Contact

Quick Link

  • MY BOOKMARK
  • INTERESTSNew
  • CONTACT US
  • BLOG INDEX

Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

The wandersThe wanders
© TheWanders Network. All Rights Reserved.
  • Contact us
  • About us
  • FAQs​
Manage Cookie Consent
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Preferences
{title} {title} {title}
Join Us!
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..
Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?