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When the Historical Route of the Lines of Torres Vedras was created, it brought together only six municipalities rowing in the same direction. Today, the Route has grown and the map is different. What made this expansion possible — and what has changed in the collaboration between municipalities?
The expansion was possible because the municipalities understood that only through a joint vision could they enhance the value of a unique history and heritage whose essence is inter-municipal, I would even say national. There was political maturity and an ongoing commitment to cooperation on the part of the representatives of the municipalities involved. But for the success, I would also highlight the decisive role of the inter-municipal technical team which, side by side with the board, ensured rigour, execution capacity and a dedication to the territory that goes beyond the professional. We are all tireless, committed and passionate about heritage. It was this spirit of cooperation and mutual assistance that made it possible to advance on so many fronts at the same time. Today, the Route is a network that has learned to think, negotiate and, above all, work for the common good. The biggest change was this: we stopped working side by side and started working together for real. The awareness among members that they are part of a territory that has played a historically important role for the country, but also for Europe, has brought greater efficiency, integrated planning and the ability to attract structural projects.
After ten years, you are leaving the presidency at a time when the Route is consolidated, is a driver of tourism and economic development and has established itself as a model of good governance. What is the biggest challenge in ensuring that this energy continues to transform the territory?
The biggest challenge is to continue to grow with strategic consistency. The Route needs to maintain its historical rigour, continue to innovate and deepen its connection with communities. It is essential to consolidate the identity that has been built and, at the same time, prepare it for the new paradigms of cultural tourism and digital audiences, while continuing to listen to the people and agents on the ground. It is necessary to secure funding, attract new audiences and consolidate internationalisation. True sustainability depends on the ability to think long term, and this can only be achieved with a project that is lived, not just administered.
The Lines of Torres Vedras are much more than forts and strongholds: they are a landscape shaped by History, where the memory of the greatest military offensive the country has ever suffered is still part of the identity of the places and their people. Why look at the Lines as a unified territory?
Because the Lines were conceived as an integrated defensive system, and this logic can only be understood when the territory is read as a whole. To work on them in a fragmented way would be to contradict their very nature. The concerted territorial approach has made it possible to structure tourist products, reinforce the landscape reading and create a coherent narrative that links communities, spaces and memories of the French Invasions. The Lines are not separate pieces. When we show that each hill, valley, stronghold or battlefield is part of something bigger, the memory becomes present: they are stories from history and stories passed down from generation to generation. When we look at the territory in this way, we realise that we are caring for a heritage that continues to thrive.
Over the last few years, we have witnessed a true metamorphosis: abandoned military structures have become a well-preserved, visitable and award-winning heritage site and a narrative of the First and Third French Invasions of Portugal that stretches over more than 80 km. What was most demanding in the rehabilitation process?
The main challenge was to balance the preservation and safeguarding of heritage with the need to create conditions for visitation. It was necessary to harmonise methodologies, create references for good practices and ensure scientific rigour in an ongoing dialogue between academia, the army, technical teams and local authorities. Reconciling different scales — local, regional and national — meant building a vision that integrated everyone. There were very degraded structures, sensitive landscapes, communities deeply connected to these spaces, and this made us feel, at various moments, the weight of responsibility — not for the stones, but for the stories they hold. But there were also moments of enormous joy, such as seeing residents revisiting a fort that they no longer thought could be restored or whose importance they were completely unaware of.
With INVADE magazine and the InvadeMAG portal, communication has taken on a central role. How has communication helped to create the identity of the Route's territory?
Communication has brought the territory closer to the people. Invade magazine and the InvadeMAG portal, for example, make heritage accessible, contemporary and emotionally meaningful, and have been able to engage both experts and the general public. The work of ‘communicating’ has helped to strengthen collective identity, create heritage literacy and make heritage an everyday resource for other aspects of the territory, such as events, heritage education and various possible tourist experiences. Social media and the Route's website, in turn, have created a ‘community’, which is essential for reinforcing the sense of belonging and positioning the Route within a broader spectrum of audiences.
How can we balance technology, historical accuracy and tourism?
I believe that this balance results from a clear rule: technology must be at the service of history, never the other way around. Each digital tool has been developed with scientific validation and defined educational objectives. They are mediators in historical interpretation and the visitor experience, and when this is the case, tourism becomes more qualified and informed. For example, in the case of Virtual Reality available at the Route's eight Interpretation Centres and many other Augmented Reality experiences at various heritage sites, technology is a bridge between historical detail and the possibility of ‘seeing’ the past happening before your eyes, and this creates a connection with the public.
The Route is part of the national network of Napoleonic Itineraries in Portugal, the Napoleonic Routes through Spain and Portugal, and the European Cultural Itinerary Destination Napoleon. What role do you envisage for the Route in the European context?
The Route is now in a position to strengthen its position as a benchmark in the integrated management of Napoleonic themes, both nationally and internationally, as long as it continues its path of cooperation between municipalities, public and private entities, technical teams and international partners. In recent years, the Route has grown in importance in the context of European cultural landscapes and Napoleonic memory, and I believe that we are in a position to establish the territory as a benchmark in conservation, interpretation and innovation. Our work has been held up as a good example for other organisations and recognised by various bodies, including the European Federation of Napoleonic Cities, where we renewed our vice-presidency this year.
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Was there a moment that marked institutional maturity?
Yes, absolutely. The moment when the municipalities began to discuss the territory in terms of strategy and cohesion, rather than just operations. When we stopped looking at municipal boundaries and began to work on the cultural and military heritage of the French Invasions as a comprehensive system, it could be said that the Route reached a new level.
What was it like to manage a project with such diverse audiences?
It was an exercise in constant mediation. We spoke with academics, local authorities, schools, supra-municipal entities, the private sector and the communities that live with these memories on a daily basis. We sought to adapt the language without losing rigour and to ensure that everyone felt part of the process. Each group tends to see the Lines of Torres and the French Invasions differently, and each deserves to be heard. Sometimes I felt like a mediator, other times like an apprentice. But I always felt part of something bigger than the role I played: a living territory that compels us to safeguard and value it.
What advice would you give to your successor — and what memories will you take with you?
The advice is simple and known to all who have shared with me this ten-year journey of the Association and the Inter-municipal Platform for the Lines of Torres Vedras: preserve the spirit of cooperation, listen to the people and the territory to maintain an up-to-date and coherent strategic vision, and trust the technical team. It is this team that guarantees continuity, competence, and the ability to execute. As for memories, I take with me the satisfaction of seeing a previously unknown heritage become a living space, enjoyed by communities and visitors alike, as well as national and international recognition. I particularly enjoy going to the Alqueidão Fort and looking out over the landscape that continues to bear witness to the reason for the existence of these Lines. There, in the heart of Lisbon's First Line of Defence, I clearly understand that history continues and that it is a privilege to take care of it.