INTERPRETATION CENTERS

On November 26, 1809, the French troops under the command of Kellerman defeated the Spanish army led by the Duke of Parque. Of the Castle of the Dukes of Alba, the Torre del Homenaje (Keep) of the six towers that it once had is still preserved today.

On July 22, 1812, the hills of the Salamanca municipality of Arapiles witnessed the defeat of the French army under the command of General Marmont.

Napoleonic troops invaded this historic city to conquer the Iberian Peninsula. In the tourist office you can consult detailed information about this period, the events and historical recreations that take place.

The Military-Historical Museum of Almeida occupies the old “Casamatas” of Almeida, subway galleries of the 18th century that were built for military protection and contain twenty rooms and corridors. The museum is an interactive and multimedia space that reconstructs the History of Portugal, with special emphasis on the Peninsular Wars, the invasion and the Siege of Almeida.

It is one of the largest and best preserved palaces in the city. Its interior, recently restored, is used for cultural purposes, where you can see the exhibition “Wellington against Napoleon”.

The Battle of Bussaco which took place on September 27, 1810 marks the beginning of the end of the war by inflicting heavy casualties on the French, with minor losses to the Portuguese and British.

The Buçaco Military Museum was created in 1910 and inaugurated on 27 September of the same year, by King Manuel II, as part of the Commemorations of the First Centenary of the Battle of Buçaco.

The site aims to give a perspective of the French Invasions and the fundamental role played by the Battle of Buçaco in the blockade of the Napoleonic forces.

The Linhas de Torres is a cultural and tourist product with more than 200 years of history. It played an essential role in the lines of defense of the city of Lisbon against Napoleon’s French troops when they tried to advance to take the capital of the kingdom. The Route has two interpretation centers where you can learn more about this historical period, one in Arruda dos Vinhos and the other in Forte da Casa.

This imposing building gathers documents, weapons and other historical objects of the Spanish Cavalry. Among the collections you can find paintings, sculptures, weapons and many objects. It also includes a complete library with more than 12,000 volumes dating from the sixteenth century onwards.

The battle of Vimeiro was one of the great victories of the Peninsular War. Not only did it put an end to the First French Invasion, begun in 1807, but it also defeated the until then “invincible Napoleonic armies”.

In the Spanish War of Independence against the Napoleonic invasion, the residents of San Felices will again play a prominent role. The final battle was fought by the town on the outskirts of San Felices, where the French destroyed the Convent of San Juan and part of the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Luz. After a day and a half of fighting they took San Felices and established their camp there until their retreat 3 years later (1812).