Wellington Defensive Lines in Portugal
Description
In 1807 Napoleon sent his armies to invade Portugal as punishment for the country not having joined his Continental Blockade. With the English help, a joint force of British and Portuguese commanded by the future Duke of Wellington was created to tackle the situation. Anticipating the third and last invasion the duke built two impregnable defensive lines north of Lisbon, fortifying all the surrounding hills. In this tour we will visit three of the main forts of the Torres Vedras Defensive Lines which connect the Tagus to the Atlantic: the Alhandra Memorial Fort, the Zambujal Fort in Mafra and the Torres Vedras Fort. In Mafra we'll visit the magnificent baroque complex Palace/Convent/Basilica, built with the large amounts of gold brought from Brazil. On this trip we will talk about the history of this period and the importance of the influence of French revolutionary ideas on the future of Portugal. A highlight of the tour is the beautiful scenery of the places we will visit.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Visit to the monument and the Fort. Admire the sights over the Tagus river and the plains of Ribatejo
Visit to the Fort of Zambujal in Mafra
Visit to the palace
Visit to the Interpretation Center of Lines of Torres Vedras
Visit to the Fort of Torres Vedras Castle
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Fixed pick-up points aim to reduce the time spent in traffic within the city, but this does not prevent the traveler from proposing a more convenient pick-up point that meets the same objectives.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Guided Tour
Reviews(5)
This tour was excellent, showing us 4 redoubts, the Torres Vedres museum and movie, and Mafra. Henrique is very enthusiastic and shared the Portguese history and impact of the Lines on the country. We especially enjoyed seeing the countryside beyond Lisboa.
Hello Janet, Thank you very much for your kind words in this review of the Wellington Defensive Lines in Portugal tour. It was a great pleasure for me to meet you and your husband and share with you this day of your visit to Lisbon visiting around the Lines of Torres Vedras and talking about the great theme of the Peninsular War. Best regards Henrique
We had a fantastic experience on our Wellington Tour. Henrique was very knowledgeable about History and took us to a variety of great locations that not only were historically significant, but also beautiful and helped us visualize the stories. In addition, we got to have lunch at an authentic local restaurant and see a bonus cathedral. This was definitely a unique experience off the beaten path. Highly recommend!
Hello Carrianne Thank you very much for your kind and rewarding comment. I was delighted to welcome you on this tour and to hear of your enthusiastic and knowledgeable interest in the Duke of Wellington's presence and work in Portugal during the Peninsular War. I'm very sorry for the delay in my reply, but I wasn't notified in time by Viator, as usual. Do come back often, as there is much to visit in Portugal about Wellington's historical heritage!
The trip my husband really wanted to do and it didn't dissapoint. A fantastic way to explore the Wellington defensive lines and suppounding countryside. Henique was an amazing tour guide and host. So knowledgeable and gave lots of useful tips for Lisbon and Porto. Thank you, highly recommend.
Hello, Helen Thank you very much for your kind words about "The Wellington Defensives Lines in Portugal" Tour. I really enjoyed meeting you and your husband and accompanying you on this tour to learn about the history of the Napoleonic invasions in Portugal and enjoying the wonderful green countryside around Lisbon. I'd love to have you back another time. Henrique
This was exactly the tour we wanted. Henrique was professional, knowledgeable, flexible, and accommodating. Not only did we see all the sites we wanted, it was the perfect way to explore the countryside. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at a local restaurant in Mafra and still had the chance to visit the Palace/Cathedral there. Not only would we highly recommend this tour, we would certainly use this service again for another tour in the area.
Hi Susan Thank you very much for the review about the Tour of the Lines of Wellington we did north of Lisbon. Thank you very much also for your nice company and keen interest in the history and places we visited. I wish you would come back one day! Henrique
This is a must-do experience for anyone wanting an off-the-beaten track journey into Portuguese history. The three of us set out knowing a little about Napoleon's attempts to reach Lisbon, and came away amazed .Our guide/driver Henrique shared his enthusiasm and sense of adventure to make this a brilliant day. Even before the historical sites we saw areas of Lisbon we didn't know, and as a bonus Henrique took us to an authentic local restaurant in Mafra.
Thank you very much for your so kind and gratifying comment. It was a great pleasure for me to have met and accompanied on this tour such a friendly and attentive family, and so interested and participative in the theme of the tour. I'd be pleased to meet with you next time you visit Lisboa. Warm regards. Henrique
