Splendid and grandiose construction of Elvas Square situated on a high elevation to the north.
Notable example of military architecture of the 19th century. Considered by many historians to be one of the most powerful bastioned fortresses in the world, the Forte da Graça or Lippe is still original in its design and implantation.
This elevation has always been very important: still in the century. Here was the small chapel of Santa Maria da Graça, whose rebuilding at the time was due to Vasco da Gama's great-grandmother; In the War of Restoration in 1658, the Spanish built here a stronghold to attack the city of Elvas.
The building of the fortification would begin in 1763 by Wilhelm, Count of Schaumbourg-Lippe, commissioned by King D. José to reorganize the Portuguese army. To direct the works was chosen Engineer Éttiene, being shortly afterwards replaced by Colonel Guillaume Louis Antoine de Valleré. The gigantic works would not finish until 1792.
Consisting of three bodies, the exterior works, the main body and the central stronghold, the Forte da Graça is an example of Vauban military architecture. The central body is formed by four bastions with the middle door of the south curtain the main door of a phenomenal beauty.
In 1856 the war was already taking other paths and in this space a correction company was created and in 1894 a disciplinary deposit where several political prisoners were from the 1st Republic until 1974.
The monument was the subject of intervention during 11 months, which resulted in the restoration of the governor's house, the highest point of the fort, the officers' houses and other architectural elements, and all the original colors and materials were restored. Strong and recovered the structures, namely the cistern, the prison, the shooting galleries and the chapel, where were discovered frescoes of the nineteenth century, also targeted.
The Forte da Graça is part of the site "Border City and Garrison of Elvas and its Fortifications", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This image was captured with a Canon EOS R
Canon 16-35 f4 IS L