Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo
Looking at the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo is like turning a page from an immense book of memories and stories that are part of our imagination, our past.
The Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo has been under municipal management since 2017 and, open to the public year-round since 2015, has already received over 650,000 visitors. With a privileged location, the fort is a monument that has become the main observation point for big waves at Praia do Norte, which made Nazaré a world surfing reference. With a strong historical and scientific component, the fort houses the Nazaré Canyon Interpretive Center, the Surfer Wall and various periodic exhibitions.
Brief History
Ordered to be built in 1577 by King Sebastian for defense against pirates and corsairs, the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo was reinforced in 1644 during the reign of King John IV. Over the centuries, the fort withstood French invasions and served as a watchtower and coastal signaling post. In 1903, a lighthouse was installed in the fort, which remains operational to this day. Classified as a Property of Public Interest, the fort is a testament to Nazaré's rich maritime history.
Nazaré Canyon Interpretive Center
The Nazaré Canyon Interpretive Center was inaugurated on May 30, 2015, and is a pedagogical and scientific exhibition about the Nazaré Canyon, developed with the support of the Portuguese Navy's Hydrographic Institute.
Hydrographic Institute Room
The Nazaré Canyon Interpretive Center contains scientific information explaining the formation and dimensions of the submarine canyon, the wave characteristics in Nazaré, and the shoaling and refraction phenomena that give rise to giant waves. The Hydrographic Institute Room also features a scale model of the seabed off Nazaré and information about the German submarine U-963, which sank off the canyon in 1945.
Surfer Wall
"Surfer Wall" is a museum project, created in 2016, that honors the athletes who surf Nazaré's giant waves. The project consists of a permanent exhibition of the surfboards used by surfers in their most memorable sessions at Praia do Norte, accompanied by information about each athlete.
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Interpretive Center
Surfer Wall
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Meet the heroes of giant waves and check real-time sea conditions