RHLTAssociation for Heritage Tourism Development of the lines of Torres Vedras

Who are we

The Historical Route of the Lines of Torres Vedras is an Association Heritage & Tourism of the Lines of Torres Vedras, nonprofit, formed by the founding cities of Arruda dos Vinhos, Loures, Mafra, Sobral, Torres Vedras and Vila Franca de Xira, which wants to welcome other public and private entities, who have a particular interested in heritage & tourism promotion and the enhancement of the Lines of Torres Vedras; as well as maintain cooperative and collaborative relationships with other national and international organizations that have similar goals.

Mission and Goals

Mission

  • Contribute to the sustainable development of the territory of the Lines of Torres Vedras, by safeguarding, conservation and enhancement of the heritage of the Lines of Torres Vedras and its promotion as a cultural tourism product.

Goals

  • Protect and value the historical, environmental, cultural and urban heritage associated with the Lines of Torres Vedras.
  • Exchange of experiences between members, particularly in terms of heritage conservation;
  • Planning a sustainable policy of cultural tourism promotion;
  • Regulation and management HRLTV brand;
  • Promoting awareness of the historical importance of this monument and heritage;
  • Economic Development, promoting civic, cultural and economic engagement.

Story

Background

For decades, the municipalities and the Portuguese Army have shared the concern to preserve and enhance the Lines of Torres Vedras. In 2000, Arruda dos Vinhos, Loures, Mafra, Sobral, Torres Vedras E Vila Franca de Xira municipalities designed a project to protect, enhance and disseminate the Lines of Torres Vedras through a screening of the existence of military works that integrated the defense system built on the early nineteenth century, north of Lisbon, as well as conservation diagnosis.

This work resulted, in 2002, the Programme for the Protection, Restoration and Enhancement of the Lines of Torres Vedras, the municipalities were working in partnership with the defunct Portuguese Institute of Architectural Heritage (IPPAR), a program of preservation and redevelopment of these sites.

Intermunicipal Platform for the Lines of Torres Vedras (IPLTV)

In 2006, as a result of the need for a common strategy for the protection, restoration and promotion of the heritage of the lines, the six municipalities formed the Intermunicipal Platform for the Lines of Torres Vedras (IPLTV), which worked effectively over the years to establish common criteria for the management and communication of this heritage and to create a quality cultural and tourist product. Actions in the field reflected the adoption of common best practices and have relied on the contribution of other partners such as the Portuguese Army, the Directorate General for National Buildings and Monuments (DGEMN), the Management Institute of Architectural and Archaeological Heritage (IGESPAR), the Directorate General of Culture (DGPC), Tourism of Portugal, among others, with their know-how have been key contributors. And last but not least, this project has enjoyed continuous support and endorsement from The British Historical Society of Portugal (BHS), with which IPLTV has developed a close collaboration throughout several activities, such as the classification process of the Lines as a National Monument, bonding with the British Embassy in Lisbon, helping to set up in London the Friends of the Lines and guiding the All Party Parliamentary Group visit to the Lines in July 2009.

Thus, the creation of the Intermunicipal Platform consolidates and systematizes a whole magnitude of work that has been gathered over more than a decade. Consecutive years of diligence by municipal efforts configure have demonstrated a capacity for success, only possible with persistence and the support of all. The principle of stability as well as the duty of cooperation of all the elements that make up this Intermunicipal Platform.

EEA Grants 2007-2011: The big bet

Still during 2006, and in close collaboration with DGEMN/Directorate General for National Buildings and Monuments, the six municipalities have joined forces once again to prepare for an international candidature, which would allow to put into place the plan to safeguard and promote the Lines of Torres Vedras, this time assuming intervention priorities and adding to the heritage value the economic sustainability, based on cultural management and tourism planning.

The EEA Grants 2007-2011 project was based not only on the recovery, conservation and enhancement of this element of national identity but also its transformation into a valuable educational tool on issues as diverse as Citizenship, Environment or European History.

The funding allowed the six Portuguese municipalities to build the foundations for the creation of the Historical Route of the Lines of Torres Vedras, investing on historical and archaeological research, in conservation of military works, rehabilitation of works such as the conservation and restoration of the forts and redoubts and interpretation centers, rehabilitation of sections of military roads and construction of new accesses to the strongholds and common projects related to communication and promotion of the project, including scientific seminars, publications (brochures and promotional spots, guides, tourist map, historical monograph), participation in tourism fairs and organizing technical workshops.

Awards

Europa Nostra

The European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra awarded the Historical Route of the Lines of Torres Vedras on the category of Conservation and was delivered in a ceremony in Vienna, Austria on May 5th 2014.

For the award the jury took into account several factors, such as: the importance of preserving this military structure, the role it played in the Portuguese and European history; numerous inter advantages to the different authorities involved throughout HRLTV; and the possibility that the new route set offers to encourage a new audience to discover the region.

The option of a contemporary architecture project for interpretation centers was also highly appreciated by the jury, which established the relationship between the past and the present.

The RHLT project was selected among 169 applications accepted from 31 countries.

This distinction awarded by the European Union and Europa Nostra Network by means HRLTV for international recognition of all the work of preservation, protection and enhancement of European cultural heritage, but also of national historical identity in Europe, developed by partner municipalities of Arruda, Loures, Mafra, Sobral, Torres Vedras and Vila Franca de Xira.

The Best in Heritage 

Tourism of Portugal award

In 2012, the project of the Historical Route of the Lines of Torres Vedras received the Prize in the category of Best Public Project Renewal assigned by Tourism of Portugal.

The award recognizes the contribution of the project to qualify for the national tourism and the reputation of Portugal as a tourist destination of excellence.

According to Federico Costa, President of the Executive Council of Tourism of Portugal, "The project (...) contributes to the enhancement of the region offer [attractions] and to the regeneration of the monumental heritage with the recovery of military fortifications as well as several circuits that allow the tourist to know the area better. The project also stood out for the quality of care since the monitoring is done by technical experts (...). Also worth mentioning the development of partnerships with different economic, local and regional, particularly in terms of catering and hospitality agents and even partnerships with Municipalities involved. This project was established as an important factor for the economic development of each municipality and the region (...) factor. "

Fonte: 2011 Prémios. Turismo de Portugal - os melhores de 2011. Lisboa: Turismo de Portugal, 2011, p. 19

Team

The Historical Route of the Lines of Torres has a multidisciplinary team of experts from various partner municipalities. This is a permanent team that operates in several areas (archeology, communication, conservation and protection, museology, national and international partnerships, programs and cultural projects, tourism, etc.) and account where necessary with other technical rapports more specialized for issues that require it.

Contacts

Association for Heritage Tourism Development of the lines of Torres Vedras

Praça Dr. Eugénio Dias, n.º 12
2590-016 Sobral de Monte Agraço

GPS
390 01'07, 134"N; 09009'05, 520"W

Phone
+351 261 942 296

Email
rotahistoricalinhastorres@gmail.com

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