Fort da Ponta da Bandeira lies in the city of Lagos in the Algarve province in Portugal.

And here again we have a building that doesn't fit my own definition of a medieval castle. But it still is a very stylish military building. So for this fort I stretch my own definition again so I can add it to my site.

In the end of the 17th century the Algarvian coast suffered from attacks of Moorish and European pirates. Also the town of Lagos was targeted. The medieval city walls however, lay some distance from the beach, which left the beach unprotected. So under the rule fo the Count of Sarzedos, Governor of the Algarve, Fort da Ponta da Bandeira was built on the beach next to the harbour. The building of this fort started somewhere between 1679 and 1683. It was completed in 1690.

It is a square fort with circular guardtowers at its four corners. In front of the castle is a small moat with a reconstructed drawbridge. Inside there is a small courtyard which leads to a 18th century chapel, covered with azulejos (Portuguese tiles), and a small musuem. A ramp leads up to the cannon platform on top of the fort from which also the guardtowers could be entered.

The courtyard and cannon platform of the fort are freely accessible during the day time. Lagos itself is a fairly busy, touristic town.

The medieval city gate opposite the fort.

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