Valença Fortress
The Valença Fortress is one of the most important military fortresses in Europe, with a walled perimeter of around 5 km. From its location opposite Tui, it controls the River Minho. A spot that shines for its Galician-Minho coexistence in commercial and tourism terms.
An example of military architecture, its first walls date back to an Iron Age settlement, and its current defensive system was built in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The fortress is situated on the top of two hills and consists of two main interconnected enclosures: the Magistral (the oldest) and the Coroada, separated by a moat and false ramparts.
The fortress preserves many elements of defensive architecture, including 10 bulwarks and 2 demi-bullwarks, 5 ravelins, 5 ramparts, 6 redans, 2 counterguards, 2 couvrefaces, 1 tenaille, 34 watchtowers, 214 cannons, 6 gates, 3 posterns, 2 armouries and 10 bunkers.
