Our Landscapes

Here we have the museum of dinosaurs located in Lourinhã and a statue also in the same village.

We also can see a monument in Porto Dinheiro known as Lady of Liberty and a monument dedicated to our soldiers who fought in the Ultrasea War.

A new challenge

Hello, dear Polish friends:

We are students attending 7th, 8th and 9th levels. We are studying European History: The Second World War.
We got to know Poland was invaded by the German troops on 1st September 1939.
The main aim is to go deeper in our knowledge about that terrible event.
Portugal didn’t participate directly in that war. Nevertheless we couldn’t help feeling its negative consequences, especially in the social and economical areas.
We would like you to share with us some Polish points of view about the real effects of that war in Poland.
Here are some questions we thought would be the most interesting for us. If you want to add new ones they’d welcome.

Best wishes
Portuguese students from Ribamar

Questions:

1 – Have you still a relative who had lived the Second World War?
2 – Do you happen to know any victims (family or friends) of the war?
3 – We remarked that most of the concentration camps are located in Poland. Can you explain the reason of that situation?
4 – Have you ever visited one of those concentration camps or battle fields? In the affirmative case, what was your feeling there?
5 – What are the actual feelings of the Polish people towards the German? And generally after the war?
6 – What war event touched you (Polish) most deeply?
7 – What do you thing about the countries that helped Poland?
8 – How did your country economy recover from this war?


We are grateful for your attention and answers to our questions.

In 1789, some political events of the French Revolution took place in France. They were based on the three principles: "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity." The main countries of Europe allied up against France, because they did not want these ideas “come” to them. Prince D. João has agreements with Spain and England separately. At this time the Spanish government asked for help. It wanted Portugal to participate in the Campaign of Roussillon (Eastern Pyrenees). While the Portuguese fought in the Pyrenees, Spanish delegates negotiate the peace with France, in secret. Portugal was in a difficult situation in France and Spain tried to break our alliance with England and our country seeks to maintain neutrality. The French have dominated almost all of Europe, except England. Then, the French blocked the ports of Europe to the British ships. Portugal tries to save time, but Napoleon gives us a deadline (September 30, 1807) to join the blockade, declaring war against England and confiscate the property of British citizens residing in our country. Portugal has not replied. On 27th October 1807, France and Spain reaffirmed their alliance, through the Treaty of Fontainebleau, which provided, in a secret agreement, the division of Portugal. But the invasion of our country had already been taken by Napoleon. Acros s Spain, the French army, commanded by Junot, reached Alcântara, in November 17th, 1807. With the help of three divisions Spanish are about to enter Portugal by the Beira Baixa.

The Escape of the Real Family for Brazil

On 27th November, the Portuguese Royal Family embarked to Brazil, running away from Portugal. They were accompanied by the English ships, that left of Belem. In the following day the Frenchmen arrived to Lisbon. Junot, was in “Forte de S. Julião da Barra” to fire the last ship that was seen in the horizon, but without success. The army of Junot was close to Abrantes. This situation helped the decision of the Royal Family. D. João, the regent prince, pretended to have closed the English harbours and declared war to England. This was done in a last gesture of the advance of Junot. The transference of Portuguese Royal Family to Rio de Janeiro, was seen by the prince, as the only way to guarantee the independence of the country, preventing to be captured by the invaders.
The members of the Royal Family had been installed in different boats so that, in case that some disaster happened in high sea, it had always a ready descendant to assure the continuation of the ancestry. About 15.000 people had followed D. João. During and after the embankment the confusion in the “Terreiro do Paço" , in the “Ribeira das Naus” and in Belém reigned. The guard of the navy embarked not being replaced. Many goods had been stolen. The population had known the escape of the Royal Family through a decree of the prince. In the absence of the monarch, the country would be governed by an Advice of Regency.

The battle of Vimeiro

This important battle in Vimeiro, a small village near Lourinhã, was decisive to our national defence.
In honour of our glorious soldiers and other people who participate in this historical event it was built a local monument.
The pedestrian distance between the main places is more or less 17.600 meters. This circuit begins and ends near the Monument of the Battle of Vimeiro, shown in the picture.
Along that way, several landmarks to remind the Portuguese combats between the troops commanded by Wellesley and by Junot are to be found.

The day the French Troops went from Torres Vedras to Vimeiro

In the morning of August 21st the French troops were in Torres Vedras. Sir Arthur Wellesley intended to circle the position of the enemy, moving to Lisbon by road from S. Pedro and Mafra. While giving the orders to go ahead he was notified of the arrival of General Burrard, who ordered that any move, would be dangerous.
One way that would take two hours walking time, took six long hours.
About 14,000 men were involved, as well as more than two dozen pieces of artillery pulled horses.
Sir Arthur strengthened the position of the hill of Vimeiro. All forces should be prepared to fight one hour before sunrise. At 9 am Junot put their divisions in motion for the fight.

Battle of Vimeiro

The battle of Vimeiro happened in the Peninsular War on 21st August, 1808. It took place near Lourinhã, between the French troops of Junot and the Luso-British troops of Arthur Wellesley (future duke of Wellington).

After that they defeated the French power under the command of the general Delaborde in the battle of Roliça, on 19th August. The luso-british troops of (enclosure if 14.000 men), under the command of the general Arthur Wellesley came in the direction of Lisbon.

To that group more than 4.000 british troops gathered and disembarked in Porto Novo, in Maceira (Torres Vedras).

The French troops were near Torres Vedras (12000 men, under the command of General Junot). A new fight, in Vimeiro on 21st of August took place.
The battle of Vimeiro opened the way to the negotiations written in Sintra Convention. That was the reason why the French left the Iberian Peninsula.

Portuguese reaction to the French invasion

Junot and his weak army arrived in Lisbon on November 30th, 1807.
At that time several events in the Portuguese Government happened to cause a great protest and dissatisfaction among the people. This situation was also originated by the French decisions in what concerns the military reinforcement with food and Portuguese soldiers.
The requisition of silver and gold objects of our region’s churches and monasteries had an uncalculated harm. The stolen objects were never refunded.
Some revolts were repressed with so much violence, that the population’s hate for the French people grew up.
Although, in any regions of North of the country were registered revolts and were formed a Provisory Govern. The way was opened to the English coming (our allied).

The Arrival of the French troops in Vimeiro

After the confrontations in Roliça, Wellesley continued his way to South, near the coast in the direction the Lourinhã. He was very happy because he had known that some English naval troops were to be found in Peniche. There were two brigades commanded by the Generals Acland and Anstruther with 1300 and 2700 men respectively. They would reinforce the English army. Then Wellesley placed his troops in Vimeiro, while the brigades prepared to disembark in Porto Novo.

French Invasions

The French troops: From the border to Lisbon


On 19th November 1807, Junot entered Portugal through the region of Beira Baixa. The Napoleonic troops crossed the Segura bridge on 19 and 20. Then they were divided into three groups.
In the town of Abrantes (centre of Portugal) the Spanish troops, directed by General Carrafa, followed to Tomar.
The Napoleonic troops went to Tancos – Golegã and reached Santarém on 28th. From Santarem following Cartaxo, Carregado, Alhandra and Alverca, they reached Lisbon on November 30th.