Fortress of San Lourenzo

The Fortress of San Lourenzo, located in Tomiño, Spain, was not the first fortress built on this site. Originally, it was the Fortaleza de Goián, built as a defense fortification along the Lower Miño border of Galicia and Portugal. However, in 1663, the fortification of Goián was attacked and taken by the Portuguese army. The Treaty of Lisbon, signed in 1668, agreed on the return of captured forts. The Spanish Crown decided to build a smaller fort, the Fortress of San Lourenzo, instead of the large Fortaleza de Goián as it was too large for a soldier garrison.

Construction started in 1671 under the Royal Cédula of Queen Mariana of Austria and was completed in 1673 during the reign of Carlos II. The improved relations between Spain and Portugal reduced its use, and over time it was subject to progressive abandonment until the definitive abandonment in the 19th century. In 1847, Pascual Madoz described it as follows: '. after its abandonment, it was subject to serious looting that affected the complex. At the end of the 20th century, it was the subject of a plan for recovery and enhancement.

The star-shaped structure is a unique example of 17th-century architecture. Each battlement has three guns at each corner, which can be appreciated in some 17th-century plans. A defensive ditch surrounds the complex, with the exception of a bridge that allows access to the main gate, originally equipped with a movable door. An inscription of the foundation remains, with the following text: 'For King Philip IV in the year 1671. The Fortress of San Lourenzo, with its star-shaped structure, is a remarkable example of 17th-century military architecture.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons