Belém Tower

벨렝 탑

Belém Tower is a 16th-century fortified tower in Lisbon, Portugal, on the Tagus River. Its official name is the Tower of Saint Vincent. It guarded the entrance to Lisbon and was a ceremonial gateway where Portuguese explorers set off and returned during the Age of Discoveries. It has come to stand for Portugal's seafaring power.

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At a glance

Country: Portugal
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Built: 1519
Height: 30 m
Type: Fort

Quick answers

Where is Belém Tower?

Belém Tower is in Lisbon, Portugal.

When was Belém Tower built?

Belém Tower was built in 1519.

How tall is Belém Tower?

Belém Tower is about 30 m tall.

A Manueline fortified tower guarding the Tagus estuary from the Age of Discovery.

It is a standout example of the Manueline style, with some turrets inspired by Moorish architecture. It is made of lioz limestone, a stone from the Lisbon region, and includes a bastion and a four-storey tower 30 metres tall. Since 1983 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the nearby Jerónimos Monastery.

Why was it built?

In the late 15th century, King John II planned a defence for the mouth of the Tagus, but his forts did not protect the whole entrance. Twenty years later, King Manuel I ordered a new fortress at Belém. It was designed by the military architect Francisco de Arruda and finished in 1519.

The builders used some of the stone collected for the nearby monastery. The tower was also a way to greet fleets coming home. One carving shows a rhinoceros, linked to a real animal sent to the king from India.

From fort to prison to monument

In 1580 the soldiers in the tower gave up to Spanish forces after a few hours of fighting. Afterwards the dungeons were used as a prison until 1830. Ships entering the harbour also had to pay a tax here.

French troops stayed in the tower from 1808 to 1814. In the 1840s the Philippine barracks added on top of the bastion were torn down and some details were restored, as people began to care about preserving it.

A common myth

Some people say the tower was built in the middle of the river and now stands near the shore because the river changed course after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. That is not right. The tower was built on a small island in the Tagus close to the shore.

Today it stands at the water's edge and is a symbol of Lisbon and of Portugal.

Fun facts

The tower is 30 metres tall, with four storeys.
Its official name is the Tower of Saint Vincent.
One carving shows a rhinoceros, linked to a real animal sent to the king from India.
It was built on a small island in the river, not in the middle of the Tagus.