page_title: Fort of São Francisco do Queijo
section_title: Architecture
hierarchical_section_title: Fort of São Francisco do Queijo / Architecture
caption_attribution_description: Português: Castelo do Queijo ou Fortaleza do Queijo This file was uploaded for Wiki Loves Monuments in Portugal with the unique identifier 74496. English&#160;| español&#160;| português&#160;| português do Brasil&#160;| +/−
context_page_description: Fort of São Francisco do Queijo, frequently shortened to Castle of the Cheese is a fortification situated along the coast of the civil parish of Nevogilde in the northern Portuguese municipality of Porto.
context_section_description: The fort is situated on a dominant position over the ocean, a short distance from the mouth of the Douro and Leça Rivers. To the northeast is the city park connected directly to the sea.
  The trapezoidal fortress is situated over a cliff, circled by a dry moat and areas that become inundated during high tide. The high walls are constructed with granite masonry in regular sloping rows, surmounted by a rounded frieze and topped by irregular battlements. Along the pentagonal facades are watchtowers resting on triangular corbels of stepped logs. The watchtowers are supported on cornices and formed into molded, round domes addorsed to the corners. The main facade (oriented towards the southeast) includes wall broken by main gate with rounded arch accessed by wooden drawbridge, over corbels. Over the portal, and interrupting the cornice, is the coat-of-arms of Portugal, surmounted by royal crown, under a granite sphere. Flanking the relief stone are vertical grooves reinforced by iron frame, from which hang the supporting chains of the drawbridge.
  The drawbridge leads into a small tunnel sectioned into two spaces (preserving traces of doors), covered by barrel vault that includes three arrow slits on each side. On the left side of the tunnel entrance is a bronze plaque, with the inscription:
  All did not return...with tears that do not see, with a cry that can not hear, here we are, in silent sense...with them, providing them our tribute...Command. 9 March 1985.
  A rounded niche on the left, in granite masonry, shelters a representation in stone of the St. Francis Xavier, and to the right a similar niche houses an image of the Virgin Mary. The tunnel connects to the courtyard, covered with metal grids and glass plates, that provide access to bar, powder magazine covered in barrel vault, stairs, balconies and gateways to the remaining dependencies. From the lobby there is an access ramp to the upper deck.
  An oratory, to the invocation of St. Francis Xavier was located within the hall of the former-residence of commander of the fort.
caption: Inside the military museum located within the structure
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