- Address: km 302, 9, Rocha, Uruguay
- Working hours: daily 09: 00-19: 00
- Phone: +598 4474 6541
- Website: estudioshistoricos-en.edu.uy
Despite the fact that modern Uruguay can safely be classed among the most tranquil countries, once it was the subject of constant disputes between the Spaniards and the Portuguese. In those days here was built the fortress of St. Theresa, which was supposed to protect the eastern coast of the country. It is still preserved in excellent condition, so it is popular with tourists.
History of the Fortress of St. Theresa
This military structure was built in the XVIII century by soldiers of the Portuguese army, although the prerequisites for its construction were and the Spaniards. For 100 years, the fortress of St. Theresa many times passed under the control of one or another state. Eventually, after the establishment of the State of Uruguay, the fort fell into decay.
Restoration of the building took place only in 1928 under the guidance of a historian and archaeologist Horacio Arredondo. Since the 1940s, the fortress of St. Theresa has become a museum and tourist attraction. It is one of the few monuments of the colonial era, in good condition.
Architectural features of the fortress of St. Theresa
With its architectural style, the fort resembles structures that were built by the famous military architect Sebastien Le Praetre Vauban. The fortress of St. Theresa has the same irregular pentagonal shape with small bastions and small turrets. The total length of the fortress walls is 642 m. They were erected from ashlar stone and trimmed with granite. The height of the outer walls reaches 11.5 m.
The tops of the fortress walls have a solid and spacious platform, on which former guns were located. Special ramps were provided for the movement of artillery weapons. The fortress of Saint Teresa itself was designed for 300 people and divided into the following rooms:
- room commander of the fortress;
- chapel;
- rooms for officers;
- headquarters of the fort;
- armory room;
- kitchen;
- a warehouse for storing food products;
- workshops.
On the territory of the fortress of St. Teresa there are massive doors and secret passages, which excite the imagination of tourists. So in the western part of the fort there are arched doors "La Puerta Principal", erected from solid wood. According to legends, here also there are the following structures:
- tunnel El-de-la-Tunel Trinchera, which is a deep ditch;
- Tunnel El-Tunel-del-Arca, consisting of more than three rooms and leading to the east;
- Pass Arca Secreta-del-Padre Lucas, hidden deep underground.
In addition, on the territory of the fort there were facilities for soldiers taken into custody, and horses.
The news of the fortress of St. Theresa
At a short distance from the western wall of the fort there is a cemetery that was used since the second half of the 18th century. According to historical documents, here lie the bodies of Spanish and Portuguese military, local residents and captives. The most famous of them are the missionaries of San Carlos Chorpus and Cecilia Maronas, as well as the son of one of the commanders of the fortress of Saint Teresa.
The pogost was built by convicts and Guarani Indians under the guidance of a member of the Jesuit Order of Lucas Marton. Despite the difficult conditions, the cemetery was kept in good condition. There are even ancient stone crosses carved by the famous bricklayer Juan Buzzalini.
The tourist value of the fortress of St. Teresa
The fort is in the territory of the National Park of Santa Teresa , broken on the Atlantic coast in the midst of dunes and bushes. It is located almost on the border of Uruguay and Brazil, so in the park you can relax in the Brazilian and Uruguayan beaches.
Visit the fortress of St. Theresa in order to:
- to study the collection of ancient weapons in the local museum;
- wander along the corridors of the fort;
- walk around the territory of the fortress;
- To admire the local landscapes from the top of the towering towers;
- to get acquainted with the colonial history of Uruguay.
Being in the territory of the national park, you can break up camping, sunbathe in the shade of branchy palms and eucalyptus trees or swim in the purest waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Visiting the fortress of St. Teresa is free, but for entering the territory of the park itself you will have to pay.
How to get to the fortress of St. Teresa?
The facility is located in the easternmost part of Uruguay in the homonymous national park, which stretches along the Atlantic coast. The capital of the country ( Montevideo ) is about 295 km from the fortress of Saint Teresa. You can overcome them by car for 3.5 hours, following the route number 9. First you need to consider that on this route there are paid sections.