According to the remains found in the area, it was occupied very early and by various people. The city was conquered from the Arabs by the first king of Portugal after the conquest of Lisbon, and Portuguese kings often decided to live there. At the time of the French invasions, the city was occupied by Napoleon's troops in 1807. Thereafter, it became a reference in the fight against Napoleon's army with the construction of the "Linhas de Torres Vedras",
The Lines of Torres Vedras were lines of forts built in secrecy to defend Lisbon during the Peninsular War. They were ordered by the Duke of Wellington, constructed by Portuguese workers between November 1809 and September 1810, and used to stop Massena's 1810 offensive.
When complete, over 600 guns and 152 masonry forts lay along two lines stretching from the sea to the River Tagus. The French troops eventually retreated to Spain in 1811.
Traces of trenches and bastions are still visible near the restored fort of São Vicente in the north of the town
 |
 |
Castelo - Torres Vedras |
Convento de Varatojo |
There are also some architectural heritage in Torres Vedras that you can visit, namely the Castle and a number of churches..
- The Castelo was conquered and rebuilt by Afonso I. It was then restored many times, the last time was during the 20th century, even if what remains following the 1755 earthquake is not very significant compared to the original.
- Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo. It has a very beautiful statue of the Virgin and 16th century paintings, a baptismal font of the Renaissance and azulejos of the 17th century.
- Igreja do Convento da Graça. Was built in the16th century. Inside there are 18th century azulejos and a very beautiful wooden gilded 17th century altar piece.
The monastery church of the Convento de Graça contains an impressive 17th-century gilded altarpiece, while the main building houses a museum displaying Peninsular War memorabilia.
- Igreja da Misericórdia. Built between the end of the 17th and the beginning of 18th century, you will find beautiful 18th century wooden gilded altar pieces.
- Igreja de S.Pedro. Rebuilt in the 16th century, it has a gate with Manuelin and Renaissance decorative elements.
The interior features interesting 18th-century azulejo glazed tiles and the tomb of João Lopes Perestelo, who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his epic pioneering voyage to India in 1497.
- Igreja de Santiago. A very old church, with 18th century azulejos and 17th century stalls.
- Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Amial. A very old church which was rebuilt several times.
Chafariz dos Canos. This fountain was probably built in the 14th century, it has been well restored.
- Convento do Varatojo. At Varatojo, 4 km west of Torres Vedras, the old convent of Santo António is worth seeing for its Gothic cloister and sacristy lined with 17th-century azulejo glazed tiles.It was built on order of king Afonso in the 15th century. The king often visited it and a lot of improvements were made in the 16th and 17th century. It is still occupied today by Franciscans.
- Castro do Zambujal. 3 km from TorresVedras, you will find the ruins of a prehistoric fortified city, dating back to the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC thus attesting early prehistoric human occupation in the area.
- Povoado fortificado. 9 km South of Torres Vedras, there are also relics of the Iron Age.
- Not very far away there is the Nossa Senhora do Socorro small chapel, a very popular place of pilgrimage. The chapel that gives the name to the sacntuary is located in the top of the Hills of Socorro (Serra do Socorro), a place where there was an old moorish mosque. It is an arid and very windy place with views to all directions since it is the highest spot in the vicinity and because no high vegetation exists. The chapel is classified as a national monument. The feast of Our Lady of Socorro happens on the 5th of August.
Then you go back to Torres Vedras, to follow the indications towards Leiria (A8) and leave the road at the km 40 sign to Óbidos (34 km).
