Museums and Palaces

Due to its geostrategic location, Bragança has undeniably contributed to the defence of the portuguese borders.

The Fort St. João de Deus was built to strengthen the defensive system of the town after te restoration of the Portuguese independence in 1640. When King João IV was raised to the throne, the defence of the country’s borders became a crying need. 

The Fort St. João de Deus Museum was opened in 2013 in order to rehabilitate the place where the Fort was originally built. It is located in the building of the former Military Administration, exhibiting interactive modules to highlight the important role of military presence in Bragança. This museum celebrates the memory of the place – sítio do Sardoal – and the transformation of the chapel into a Fort, named after its patron saint, St. João de Deus.