In 1875, the headquarters of the Casarão housed, in barracks abutting the curtain between the São Domingos half-bulwark and the Casarão bulwark, the Lancers Regiment no. 1, named after Victor Manoel. In the 22 barracks that it had at the time (today there are 21 with a postern gate), eight were intended for corporals and soldiers, the others being occupied by "lower-ranking officers," storerooms, a regimental depot, kitchen, warehouse supplies and workshops. Some of this regiment's workshops were on Fagundes, Esteireiros and Botafogo Streets: tailors, rifle-butt manufacturers, saddlers, a trumpeters' rehearsal house and classroom. In front of these barracks there were six stables, in a domed building which could stable 300 animals, having also, in the back, two more stables (infirmary), storeroom, workshop and shed for farriers. Between the barracks and the stables stood a large parade ground, and in the ditch stood the riding ground, with access from the postern gate of the Casarão.
Aerial view with the Casarão Barracks in the foreground
THE CASARÃO BARRACKS Under the reforms undertaken by Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst (London, 1724 – Wölpinghausen, 1777), Count of Schaumburg-Lippe, – engaged as a reformer and commander of the Portuguese army as a result of the Pacte de Famille (Bourbon) of 1761 – His Majesty, as he was addressed, ordered the building of the Fort of Graça, to his own design, and the Casarão Barracks. The construction of these barracks – named after a large building that Cosmander (1602-1648) had demolished – was directed by the colonel of artillery Guillaume-Louis-Antoine de Valleré (Ferté-Milon, 1727 – Lisboa, 1796). Construction began in 1767. 46 barracks of an elongated rectangular plan were built, perpendicular to the curtains, with a fireplace at the top opposite the entrance, barrel vaulted and bombproof. One of the side walls has two niches between two empty spaces, one at each end, permitting communication between all the barracks.
Entrance to the Military Museum of Elvas / Medium combat tank M5-A1 Stuart (1942 model)
MILITARY MUSEUM OF ELVAS
In the same year, in the 24 barracks situated between the Casarão bulwark and the Old Gate (today there are 23 Casarão Barracks. Barracks between the bulwarks of the Old Gate and of the Casarão with a postern gate), the Casarão Barracks housed Infantry Regiment no. 4. Sixteen of those barracks were occupied by soldiers and the remaining barracks had the following functions: "dungeon, police guardhouse, tailors, regimental workshop, kitchen, regimental storerooms, music rehearsal room and more corps workshops (...)." "On the opposite side to the barracks are the storerooms of the companies with the parade ground standing between one and the other (...)".
This museum, of national design, arises from the reorganisation of the Portuguese Army in 2006, when the last barracks of this border town were disbanded (Infantry Regiment no. 8). The space, formerly occupied by various units of infantry, cavalry, artillery and a Driving Instruction Centre, forms the heritage building which today houses the collections and study areas of the museum. Uniquely, both at a national and international museological level, its contents cover the following themes: Military Harnesses and Horse-drawn vehicles of the Army History of the Army Health Service Military Vehicles History of Army Communications Heritage of Elvas Interpretation Centre
Portuguese automatic telephone switchboard (1st half of the 20th century)
THE BARRACK OF SÃO DOMINGOS
Detail of the “Plan of Elvas” of 1802 (DSE 1753, 1A/14/19)
Casarão Barracks. São José fountain in front of the Command Building
There are two bays of barracks that connect the Old Gate bulwark to the Casarão bulwark, and the latter to the São Domingos half-bulwark. These bays, which have two postern gates, are connected by the command building, on the gorge of the Casarão bulwark, the front of which features the monumental marble fountain of São José, also attributed to Valleré.
After the dissolution of the religious orders in 1834, the Convent of São Domingos began to serve as the barracks for Infantry Regiment no. 1, with 1600 soldiers, providing a stable annexed to it for 45 horses or mules. In 1875 it housed Artillery Regiment no. 2, with room for 500 soldiers. In the terraplein of the closest half-bulwark (São Domingos) instruction in various specialities took place, with resort to the galleries of the cloister during rainy weather.
Convent of São Domingos cloister
THE REFORTIFICATION OF THE EASTERN AREA
In 1825, it was considered "the only barracks, properly so called, of this Stronghold," being occupied at that time by a 20th Infantry Battalion and a 3rd Cavalry Regiment. It was only partly occupied, each barrack providing bunks for 16 men when in reality its capacity was exactly double. Many of the barracks at that time served as warehouses, namely powder-magazines, and, due to the difficulty of draining away the rainwater, they were very damp thus deteriorating the gunpowder. Universal trauma (orthopaedics) table
Military Museum of Elvas
Roof of the barracks between the bulwark of Casarão and that of the Old Gate
Schneider Canet (1904) field gun
Replica of pointer telegraph
Field ambulance (1890)
Small surgery kit / field ambulance (1890)
Text : Domingos Bucho and José Ribeiro Photography and design : Raul Ladeira (VA) Translation : Connie Botelho-Cabral
Horse room (mount for a general officer)
Military Museum of Elvas Timetable Winter (November to March) Opening hours: from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Summer (April to October) Opening hours: from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Japanese 15 cm Howitzer (1937)
Closed: Monday all day, 1 January, 1 May, Easter Sunday, 25 December.
Tickets Youth from 7 to 17 years of age: 1.50 € Adult from 18 to 64 years of age: 3 € Adult over 65 years of age: 2 € Special prices for families and groups Contacts Tel: 268 636 240 / Fax: 268 636 249 musmilelvas@mail.exercito.pt
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Heritage of Elvas Interpretation Centre
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