It is located in the Peniche Fortress, Municipality of Peniche, District of Leiria, Central Portugal
The museum was born from the recognition of the Peniche Fortress as a memory space and greatest symbol of the fight for freedom.
The National Resistance and Freedom Museum's mission is to preserve the historical memory of the Peniche Fortress and the Struggle of the Portuguese People, particularly the Resistance to the Dictatorship, for Freedom and Democracy.
Following the military coup of May 28, 1926, the Peniche Fortress received political prisoners and people with controlled residence.
In 1934, the fascist regime established the Peniche Prisoner Deposit under the direction of the PVDE (State Surveillance and Defense Police).
Housed in the old buildings of the Fortress, the prisoners were responsible for managing their personal daily lives (cleaning the barracks, washing their clothes, preparing meals) always closely monitored by a body of the National Republican Guard.
In 1945, the custody of the prison came under the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice, with the means of control remaining in the hands of the PIDE (International State Defense Police).
In 1953, work began on a new prison establishment, inspired by the model of American high security prisons, works that continued until 1961 and involved the demolition of a significant part of the old buildings.
Three prison blocks are built in this place – A, B and C – and a sophisticated Parlatório was built after the demolition of the old one in 1968.
Surveillance over prisoners and their families was not only strict but also intimidating, as the configuration of the space prevented any physical contact between prisoners and their families.
Prisoners and visitors were forced to speak very loudly so that all conversations were noticeable to the guards.
Behind each prisoner there was a guard always ready to interfere in conversations. When a guard interrupted the visit, it meant that the prisoner would be punished.
The punishment could be the suspension of visits, the prohibition of recreation or sending to the “Segredo”, the fearsome punishment cell in Fortim Redondo.
During the fascist regime, Fortim Redondo was used as a disciplinary cell and among the political prisoners of Peniche it became known as “Segredo”.
The requalification of the prison gave rise to the Forte de Peniche Prison, guided by the reinforcement of the prison repressive apparatus, a reality that continued until April 25, 1974.
In the space, each block and each floor were isolated in order to prevent contact between prisoners, and two interior playgrounds were built.
In the new buildings, Block C stands out, which housed prisoners in collective cells on the 1st floor, the infirmary on the 2nd floor and the High Security Wing on the 3rd floor, where the prisoners considered most dangerous by the regime were incarcerated and who were interested in isolating them from the rest of the prison population, and it was from here that the famous collective escape of 1960 took place.
On April 27, 1974, the date of the release of political prisoners, the Peniche Fortress was declared a symbol of resistance and the fight for Freedom.
The Fight for Freedom preserved the integrity of this historic, military and prison building through a museumization project.
The Council of Ministers, held in the Peniche Fortress on May 6, 2017 by the XXI Constitutional Government, determined the creation of a National Museum in this location that, by preserving the memory of 48 years of suppression of freedoms in Portugal, perpetuates an essential reflection for the construction of the future.
The National Resistance and Freedom Museum recounts important moments in contemporary history using objects, images, graphic and audiovisual documents.
Its collection documents the repression and violation of human rights by the Military Dictatorship and the Estado Novo, the Colonial War, the Resistance to Fascism, the 25th of April 1974 and the Democratic Regime.
The National Resistance and Freedom Museum's mission is to preserve the historical memory of the Peniche Fortress and the Struggle of the Portuguese People, particularly the Resistance to the Dictatorship, for Freedom and Democracy.
Following the military coup of May 28, 1926, the Peniche Fortress received political prisoners and people with controlled residence.
In 1934, the fascist regime established the Peniche Prisoner Deposit under the direction of the PVDE (State Surveillance and Defense Police).
Housed in the old buildings of the Fortress, the prisoners were responsible for managing their personal daily lives (cleaning the barracks, washing their clothes, preparing meals) always closely monitored by a body of the National Republican Guard.
In 1945, the custody of the prison came under the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice, with the means of control remaining in the hands of the PIDE (International State Defense Police).
In 1953, work began on a new prison establishment, inspired by the model of American high security prisons, works that continued until 1961 and involved the demolition of a significant part of the old buildings.
Three prison blocks are built in this place – A, B and C – and a sophisticated Parlatório was built after the demolition of the old one in 1968.
Surveillance over prisoners and their families was not only strict but also intimidating, as the configuration of the space prevented any physical contact between prisoners and their families.
Prisoners and visitors were forced to speak very loudly so that all conversations were noticeable to the guards.
Behind each prisoner there was a guard always ready to interfere in conversations. When a guard interrupted the visit, it meant that the prisoner would be punished.
The punishment could be the suspension of visits, the prohibition of recreation or sending to the “Segredo”, the fearsome punishment cell in Fortim Redondo.
During the fascist regime, Fortim Redondo was used as a disciplinary cell and among the political prisoners of Peniche it became known as “Segredo”.
The requalification of the prison gave rise to the Forte de Peniche Prison, guided by the reinforcement of the prison repressive apparatus, a reality that continued until April 25, 1974.
In the space, each block and each floor were isolated in order to prevent contact between prisoners, and two interior playgrounds were built.
In the new buildings, Block C stands out, which housed prisoners in collective cells on the 1st floor, the infirmary on the 2nd floor and the High Security Wing on the 3rd floor, where the prisoners considered most dangerous by the regime were incarcerated and who were interested in isolating them from the rest of the prison population, and it was from here that the famous collective escape of 1960 took place.
On April 27, 1974, the date of the release of political prisoners, the Peniche Fortress was declared a symbol of resistance and the fight for Freedom.
The Fight for Freedom preserved the integrity of this historic, military and prison building through a museumization project.
The Council of Ministers, held in the Peniche Fortress on May 6, 2017 by the XXI Constitutional Government, determined the creation of a National Museum in this location that, by preserving the memory of 48 years of suppression of freedoms in Portugal, perpetuates an essential reflection for the construction of the future.
The National Resistance and Freedom Museum recounts important moments in contemporary history using objects, images, graphic and audiovisual documents.
Its collection documents the repression and violation of human rights by the Military Dictatorship and the Estado Novo, the Colonial War, the Resistance to Fascism, the 25th of April 1974 and the Democratic Regime.
