They are located in Praia da Consolação, in the parish of Atouguia da Baleia, municipality of Peniche, district of Leiria, sub-region of Oeste, Central Portugal
The Praia da Consolação Fort was built between 1641 and 1645 on the initiative of D. Jerónimo de Ataíde, Count of Atouguia.
The objective of building a fortress in that location was linked to the need to reinforce the defense of the Peniche cove, which was very exposed to corsair attacks.
The Fort of Nossa Senhora da Consolação is a defensive structure built during the period of the War of Restoration of Independence of Portugal, on the initiative of D. Jerónimo de Ataíde, 6th Count of Atouguia and Lord of Peniche in 1641 to reinforce the defense of the southern cove of Peniche, crossing fires with the Peniche Fort Square.
The fortress is located on a rocky mass located at the southern end of the beach with the main entrance facing land and separated from it by a moat and a bridge based on two round arches.
The structure is developed on a star-shaped plan composed of four triangular bastions, two facing east towards the land side and two smaller ones on the opposite side facing the sea, joined internally by a curtain on which five flagged platforms rest on which the fire hydrants were originally arranged.
The buildings parallel to each other formed a central rectangular courtyard that opened towards the sea, the coat of arms had a large round arch with a rusticated frame flanked by two pilasters on the entablature in the axis of the door, a tombstone with an inscription alluding to the foundation and construction of the fort surmounted by the crowned national shield was incorporated.
In the following centuries, Forte da Consolação underwent some transformations. In the 17th century, the structure was expanded in two different periods, 1657 and 1675.
In the middle of the 18th century, the violent earthquake of 1755 destroyed part of the battery that faced the sea and was once again subject to construction.
In 1796, the construction of the five platforms that, between the two bastions facing the sea, originally supported the gunboats, were completed.
In the year 1800, a battery with fifteen gunboats was built outside the fort to the east in order to form an entrenched field that prevented access to the fortress from the land side.
In the context of the Peninsular War in 1800, to the east of this fortification, a battery with 15 gunboats was built to further reinforce the defense of the cove.
In 1832, during the Civil War, Forte da Consolação received restoration work and was occupied by the children's holiday camp of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary in 1947.
In 1954, the buildings inside the fort were renovated and adapted to their new functions, in 1974 the headquarters of the Associação Recreativa Forte Clube da Consolação were installed there and in 1978 the Forte da Praia da Consolação was classified as a National Monument.
The Praia de Consolação Fort features a maritime fortification in a dominant position on a small promontory with a star-shaped plan, four triangular bastions and five platforms where fire hydrants were located.
Outside, it is surrounded by a moat overcoming a bridge, the gate of arms topped by a tombstone with an epigraphic inscription alluding to the foundation and construction of the fort, by the national shield crowned with a round arch with a rusticated device frame flanked by two pilasters.
In 2017, the Portuguese State ceded the property to the Peniche City Council so that a museum center dedicated to the region's military historical heritage and the municipality's geological heritage could be installed there.
The project includes the rehabilitation of the property and its integration into tourist and heritage routes in the central region.
The objective of building a fortress in that location was linked to the need to reinforce the defense of the Peniche cove, which was very exposed to corsair attacks.
The Fort of Nossa Senhora da Consolação is a defensive structure built during the period of the War of Restoration of Independence of Portugal, on the initiative of D. Jerónimo de Ataíde, 6th Count of Atouguia and Lord of Peniche in 1641 to reinforce the defense of the southern cove of Peniche, crossing fires with the Peniche Fort Square.
The fortress is located on a rocky mass located at the southern end of the beach with the main entrance facing land and separated from it by a moat and a bridge based on two round arches.
The structure is developed on a star-shaped plan composed of four triangular bastions, two facing east towards the land side and two smaller ones on the opposite side facing the sea, joined internally by a curtain on which five flagged platforms rest on which the fire hydrants were originally arranged.
The buildings parallel to each other formed a central rectangular courtyard that opened towards the sea, the coat of arms had a large round arch with a rusticated frame flanked by two pilasters on the entablature in the axis of the door, a tombstone with an inscription alluding to the foundation and construction of the fort surmounted by the crowned national shield was incorporated.
In the following centuries, Forte da Consolação underwent some transformations. In the 17th century, the structure was expanded in two different periods, 1657 and 1675.
In the middle of the 18th century, the violent earthquake of 1755 destroyed part of the battery that faced the sea and was once again subject to construction.
In 1796, the construction of the five platforms that, between the two bastions facing the sea, originally supported the gunboats, were completed.
In the year 1800, a battery with fifteen gunboats was built outside the fort to the east in order to form an entrenched field that prevented access to the fortress from the land side.
In the context of the Peninsular War in 1800, to the east of this fortification, a battery with 15 gunboats was built to further reinforce the defense of the cove.
In 1832, during the Civil War, Forte da Consolação received restoration work and was occupied by the children's holiday camp of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary in 1947.
In 1954, the buildings inside the fort were renovated and adapted to their new functions, in 1974 the headquarters of the Associação Recreativa Forte Clube da Consolação were installed there and in 1978 the Forte da Praia da Consolação was classified as a National Monument.
The Praia de Consolação Fort features a maritime fortification in a dominant position on a small promontory with a star-shaped plan, four triangular bastions and five platforms where fire hydrants were located.
Outside, it is surrounded by a moat overcoming a bridge, the gate of arms topped by a tombstone with an epigraphic inscription alluding to the foundation and construction of the fort, by the national shield crowned with a round arch with a rusticated device frame flanked by two pilasters.
In 2017, the Portuguese State ceded the property to the Peniche City Council so that a museum center dedicated to the region's military historical heritage and the municipality's geological heritage could be installed there.
The project includes the rehabilitation of the property and its integration into tourist and heritage routes in the central region.
