Forte Príncipe da Beira

Forte Príncipe da Beira
Costa Marques, Rondônia in Brazil

View of the outer wall
Forte Príncipe da Beira
Location of Forte Príncipe da Beira in Brazil
Coordinates 12°25′40″S 64°25′22″W / 12.42778°S 64.42278°W / -12.42778; -64.42278
Type Fort
Height 10 m
Length 1 km
Site history
Built 1776 (1776)–1783
In use 1889 (1889)

Principe da Beira (Forte Principe de Rivera) is a fortification on the lower part of the Guaporé River close to its confluence with the Mamoré River in the Brazilian state of Rondônia.

The fort was built from 1776 to 1783 and is one of only two forts that the Portuguese Empire built in the inner regions of Brazil. The Portuguese built it to secure their border against the expanding Spanish Empire, which controlled the areas to the southwest of Rondônia. The military use of the fort was abandoned in 1889.

The fort has an outer wall with a height of 10 m and a length of 1 km. It has four bastions, which originally carried 14 cannons each. Only one of those cannons still remains today. Inside the wall there are ruins of a chapel, soldier quarters, a prison and various utility buildings.

References


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