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Lines of Torres Vedras

Linhas de Torres Vedras · 리스본현

8 story sections

1809–1811 Military defences during the Peninsular War

History & cultureBY TELLBY

Contents

8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines
  1. 1Orientation

    Welcome to the LEEN-yas de Tor-res Ved-ras, perhaps the most extraordinary feat of military engineering in European history. You are standing in a land of high hills, wind, and windmills, just north of Lisbon. …

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  2. 2Fort of São Vicente — The Bastion of Resistance

    The Fort of Sah-o Vi-sen-te is the crown jewel of the Lines of Torres Vedras. Standing here, you are in one of the most powerful and sophisticated defensive works of the 19th century. …

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  3. 3The Scorched Earth — A Landscape of Sacrifice

    The strategy that made the Lines truly effective was the brutal 'scorched earth' policy. Wellington ordered that everything north of the Lines be moved south or destroyed. …

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  4. 4The Soldier's Life — Mud, Beef, and the Highland Fling

    Life for the soldiers stationed along the Lines was a constant battle against the elements. The winter of 1810 was one of the coldest on record in Iberia. …

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  5. 5The Telegraph Hill — Signal Stations of the Ridge

    One of the most modern features of the Lines was the extensive telegraph system. On many of the high points, like the Serra do Soc-or-ro, you can still find the locations of these signal stations. …

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  6. 6The Castle of Torres Vedras — Fort Number 27

    The historic Cas-tel-o de Tor-res Ved-ras was also integrated into the defensive system, designated as Fort Number 27. This medieval fortress, which had seen centuries of conflict, was modernized with a new gun battery and…

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  7. 7The Battle of Sobral — The Only Major Probe

    On October 14, 1810, the French army made its only significant attempt to breach the Lines near the town of Sob-ral, about twenty-one miles north of Lisbon. Marshal Mas-se-na ordered a probe of the Allied positions, leading to a…

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  8. 8Closing

    As we conclude our exploration of the Lines of Torres Vedras, we reflect on the profound impact this 'secret wall' had on the course of European history. By saving Lisbon, Wellington ensured that Britain and Portugal maintained a…

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What is Lines of Torres Vedras?

Lines of Torres Vedras is a place in 리스본현 with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.

Key facts
Location리스본현
TypeHeritage
Story sections8
Text languageEnglish
Coordinates39.1005, -9.2658
Last updated
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