Fort Ponta de Bandeira, known as the FortNossa Senhora da Pena de Franca is located outside the city walls of Lagos.

The fortress was built in the late XVII century and is part of the defense system of Lagos. At the end of the XVII century the Algarve coast very often attacked by pirates. Lagos, which was once the capital of the Algarve, also suffered from them, as was the port city. They were built defensive walls that surround the city, but they were some distance from the shore, so the shore remained unprotected place. And then the Governor of the Algarve, Earl Sarzedosh, decided to build a fort near the port.

Construction was started between 1679 and 1683 years, and was completed in 1690. To get to the castle, it was only possible through a drawbridge over a deep ditch, dug in front. Fort - it is one of the late defensive buildings in Lagos, and also the fort is well preserved until today. It is worth noting that the fortress was built at a time when Portugal was at war for independence from Spain.

Fort built in the shape of a square, located at the corners of the fort watch towers. Inside the fort there is a chapel of St. Barbara, whose walls are decorated with tiles "azulezush" end of the XVIII century. Also located inside the barracks, which today is carried out from time to time various exhibitions. Visitors can climb up to the platform with guns, which is located at the top of the fort, and then look in the watchtowers.

Today, the fort held the traditional holiday Lagos - holiday midnight swim: 29 August each year people are going to swim at midnight, enjoy local cuisine and live music.