Activities
BRITISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PORTUGAL PREPARES FOR THE BICENTENARY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR
The 2007 bicentenary of the Peninsular War in Portugal is fast approaching.
In September 2005 the British Historical Society held an intensive week of events for members relating to the Peninsular War and is launching a guided battlefield tours service to cater for the forecast upsurge in interest from tourists.
The first event was a day’s outing to visit the battlefield sites of Roliça and Vimeiro. A group of over 30 members was expertly guided by Professor Clive Willis, formerly from Manchester University, to whom the Society extends its heartfelt thanks. The battle of Roliça in 1808 was the first in a series of battles won by the Duke of Wellington, culminating in the battle of Waterloo in 1815. In his enthusiastic style, Professor Willis led the group to the very spot on the heights where Colonel George Lake fell mortally wounded having led his regiment, the 29th Foot on a full frontal assault in the stifling August heat. Following an impressive lunch, the group was then taken to the small village of Vimeiro, site of a further victory by Wellington four days later on the 21st August, 1808 leading to General Junot’s defeat and the end of the first of three invasions of Portugal by the French. The terrain of the battle remains much as it was two hundred years ago and Professor Willis’ vivid description was enhanced by fine tiled murals.
The following day members were treated to another event, this time on the Lines of Torres Vedras. Another leading expert, Colonel Gerald Napier, kindly gave a lecture on the construction the Lines and their importance in rolling back Marshall Masséna’s third French invasion of Portugal which, in effect, led to the defeat of Napolean and the liberation of Europe. Thanks go not only to Colonel Napier but also to the British Council, who generously hosted the event and provided the evening cocktails. The theme of the Lines of Torres Vedras was again in prominence the following week at a large conference organised by the Vila Franca de Xira Town Council with the object of coordinating the preservation of what remains of the 152 historic forts. The conference was jointly organized by Society member, Clive Gilbert, an acknowledged expert on the Lines, who was also a speaker. The Society’s Chairman, Dr. Paulo Lowndes Marques, was prominent on the panel of distinguished experts that included Mayors, Generals and eminent Historians. The outcome of the day’s conference was a commitment to protect and restore the Lines and to promote cultural tourism along the 30 miles of spectacular heights, forts and redoubts.
In response to the foreseen demand in tourism to not only the Lines of Torres, but also to Peninsular War battlefield sites ranging from Bussaco to Albuera in the west of Spain, several members of the Society with experience in guiding to these sites have combined forces to offer organized, professional tours. These tours are flexible and range from half a day to two days and include wine tasting and local cuisine. They are tailor-made to appeal to a variety of cultural tastes and can include visits to other sites of Portugal’s heritage, such as vineyards, museums, monuments and historical houses and gardens.