On Sunday 11 October 2026, the Torres Vedras Lines Interpretation Centre, located at São Vicente Fort, will host an afternoon dedicated to the history of the French invasions of Portugal. Organised as part of the commemorations for National Torres Lines Day, this event will feature a presentation of Leonel Fadigas’s book on the Alcobaça region, followed by a guided tour of the fort. An opportunity to explore this period through the memories of local people and the places that still bear its traces.
French invasions throughout the history of Alcobaça
Napoleon’s campaigns in Portugal are often discussed in terms of military operations, commanders’ decisions and defence systems. Leonel Fadigas’s book, The French Invasions of the Alcobaça Region: Historical and social memory of troubled times, 1807–1811, invites you to discover another dimension of this story: that of the people facing the upheavals of war.
Dedicated to the Alcobaça region, the book looks back at a period marked by violence, instability and the courage of local communities. It examines the impact of the invasions on the daily lives of the inhabitants, the economy and the social organisation of the region. By linking military events to their effects on society, it places the experiences of those who lived through these difficult years at the heart of the narrative.
This approach makes it possible to bring together several levels of analysis: that of European conflicts, that of Portugal’s history, and that of local realities. It serves as a reminder that the changes brought about by the war can also be gauged through the lives of communities, their activities and the memories they pass on.
With a foreword by Carlos Guardado da Silva, the book thus contributes to our understanding of local history and to the preservation of collective memory.
The Lines of Torres Vedras, a major heritage site from the Napoleonic Wars
The venue chosen for this presentation places the event within a setting directly linked to the defence of Portugal during the Napoleonic Wars.
Built from 1809 onwards on Wellington’s orders, the Lines of Torres Vedras formed a system of fortifications designed to protect Lisbon. They combined military structures with the natural features of the terrain to create a barrier against the advance of French troops.
During the third French invasion, in 1810, this defensive system prevented Masséna’s army from breaching the first line of defence and reaching the Portuguese capital. As such, the Lines of Torres Vedras occupy an important place in the history of the Peninsular War. Studying them helps us understand how the terrain, the fortifications and the organisation of the territory contributed to the defence of Lisbon.
Today, the Torres Lines Historical Route invites visitors to explore this heritage through its forts, interpretation centres and walking trails. It offers an insight into the events rooted in the local area, linking military history to the landscapes and territories concerned.
São Vicente Fort: linking reading to exploring the area
The Fort of São Vicente is one of the most iconic sites within this defensive complex. Situated in Torres Vedras, it was designed as one of the system’s forward command posts, before being incorporated into the front line.
Its construction underwent a significant development: the redoubts were linked by a rampart, strengthening the position and forming a vast fortified complex. This layout reflects the adaptation of the defensive system and the importance attached to this site.
The guided tour organised to coincide with the event will therefore complement the book launch with an on-site exploration of the local heritage. Visitors will be able to move from the history of the people of Alcobaça to that of a military fortification in Torres Vedras – two complementary perspectives on the French invasions of Portugal.
It is this combination of reading and a site visit that makes the afternoon so worthwhile: it enables participants to explore the same historical period through historical research, a meeting with the author and a visit to a preserved site.
A meeting with Leonel Fadigas and Carlos Guardado da Silva
The presentation will bring together the author, Leonel Fadigas, and the writer of the book’s foreword, Carlos Guardado da Silva.
A former lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Lisbon, Leonel Fadigas has devoted his work in particular to urban planning, spatial planning and landscape architecture. He is also the author of historical studies.
Carlos Guardado da Silva is a lecturer at the Faculty of Arts, University of Lisbon, and a researcher at the Centre for Classical Studies. His research focuses on history and information science.
Their talks will give the public an insight into the book, its subject matter and the approach that guided its creation. For those interested in Napoleonic history, as well as those wishing to learn more about the region’s past, this event will provide a gateway into a history where European issues intersect with local experiences.
An afternoon as part of the commemorations of the Torres Lines
Announced as part of the programme of events to mark Torres Lines National Day, celebrated on 20 October, the event on 11 October will combine a literary presentation, a heritage tour and a chance to socialise.
The programme will start at 3.00 pm with the book launch hosted by the professor Carlos Guardado da Silva, author of the foreword. To 3.30 pm, a segment will be devoted to the author, Professor Leonel Fadigas.
À 4.00 pm, participants will be invited to take part in a guided tour of São Vicente Fort. The afternoon will continue at 5.00 pm with a social event billed as «Torres Vedras de Honra».
By bringing these various initiatives together, the event encourages people to take the time to discover and understand a shared heritage. It also highlights the way in which historical publications and heritage sites complement one another: the former shed light on events, whilst the latter enable us to situate them within their geographical context.
Practical information
- Date: Sunday 11 October 2026.
- Opening hours: from 3 pm to 6 pm, local time.
- Location: Torres Vedras Lines Interpretation Centre, São Vicente Fort.
- Address: Rua do Forte de São Vicente, Torres Vedras, Portugal.
- How to get there: Free admission, subject to availability.
- Further information: Leonel Trindade Municipal Museum — +351 261 310 485 or +351 261 310 455.
- https://invademag.pt/index_EN.html