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Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications

The site, extensively fortified from the 17th to 19th centuries, represents the largest bulwarked dry-ditch system in the world. Within its walls, the town contains barracks and other military buildings as well as churches and monasteries. While Elvas contains remains dating back to the 10th century ad, its fortification began when Portugal regained independence in 1640. The fortifications designed by Dutch Jesuit padre Cosmander represent the best surviving example of the Dutch school of fortifications anywhere. The site also contains the Amoreira aqueduct, built to enable the stronghold to withstand lengthy sieges.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1367

The Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications comprise a frontier town that was strongly fortified from the 17th to 19th century. It guards a key border crossing between Lisbon and Madrid.

The fortifications are of the bulwarked dry-ditched type (“Dutch school of fortification”): as such it is the largest surviving example in the world.

The site consists of 7 parts:

• Historic centre

• Amoreira Aqueduct

• Fort of Santa Luzia and the covered way linking it to the Historic Centre 

• Fort of Graça 

• Fortlets of São Mamede 

• Fortlet of São Pedro 

• Fortlet of São Domingos 

http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/elvas.html