Forte de Nossa Senhora da Graça

Amazing example of medieval military architecture.

Amazing fortress with stunning views to Elvas and it’s surrounding valleys. Try to image enemies trying to invade it! It has three defense lines, plent of arrowslits so archers could target enemies. Worth the visit, very easy to reach, has parking and it’s free to visit.

Simply a miracle design of a military fortress.

A huge, well preserved, fortress that will surely entertain you most if you're curious about walking down the whole wall and exploring every bit. The view is nothing but gorgeous specially up at the governor's house. I didn't see it with a guide, but if they were available I'd choose that since the fortress is just too huge and surely filled with history that you can't grasp by just reading the signs which in my opinion were lacking some information.

The "Fort of Nossa Senhora da Graça", also referred to as "Fort da Graça" or "Fort Conde de Lippe", is located in the parish of Alcáçova, about a kilometer north of the city of Elvas, municipality of the same name , Portalegre district, in Portugal. In a dominant position over Monte da Senhora da Graça, it was part of the defense of the Elvas square, which it complemented. It is currently part of the "Fronteiriça and Garrison City of Elvas and its Fortifications" complex, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO since June 30, 2012. Features An example of modern military architecture, it is considered a masterpiece both for the originality of the solutions presented there, and for its monumentality. At a height of 404 meters above sea level, it is composed of three distinct defensive, interdependent lines, separated by deep moats: the Reduto, Magistral and exterior works. The structure, of a quadrangular plan with one hundred and fifty meters on the side, is completed by pentagonal bastions at the vertices (from the SO bastion, clockwise, invoked respectively by Santo Amaro, Malefa, Badajoz and Cidade). Four small revelins cover the curtains, in the middle of which insert the monumental gate (Porta do Dragão) and three poternas. Over the main gate, there is the coat of arms of Portugal and an evocative plaque of the visit of D. José I in the year 1756, in the company of the marquis of Pombal and the count of Lippe. The central body of the square has a high, circular plan, with two vaulted floors: - the lower cruciform planimetry, with a chapel in one of the smaller arms, next to the doors leading to the Palace. There are four elliptical tribunes that could be transformed into gunboats to defend the four doors that give access to the chapel and the Redoubt. Below the chapel, excavated in the living rock, a cistern is one of his most notable works. - the superior, in the Governor's House. Here, the central room on the 4th floor has murals of historical evocation, with portraits of Count de Lippe and Colonel Valleré; the central room on the 5th floor is all white, with neoclassical decoration in mass works. Externally, the structure is completed by a hornaveque with its revelim and poterna, and by a dry moat, ten meters wide.

Huge fort, lots of area to cover. Machine with cold drinks available in the entrance. View from the governor's house is astonishing.

I came to this fort over 10 years ago and it was almost an abandoned landmark. Now it has been restored and many of its parts refurbished in order to welcome visitors in most areas. It was a beautiful viewpoint over Elvas and even Badajoz in Spain. There are a number of historical details like wall paintings and furniture that give a historical travel back to the early / mid-20th century, and even before that. Entry is free so definitely worth a visit if you stop at Elvas.

Beautiful fort, only about a 4-5 minute drive from the aqueduct parking. We arrived early in the afternoon on a Saturday and there was only a few other people there. Interesting history and well worth the time it takes to visit.