Historical Buildings & Cultural Venues
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L&L Luce&Light
Juromenha Fortress
Juromenha Fortress, in the municipality of Alandroal, is a monument
of great historical value that has gone through several transformations
over the centuries. Dating back to the Roman occupation, it played
a crucial military role during the Islamic period and was conquered
by the first Portuguese king in the 12th century. Its architecture has
undergone work numerous times, particularly after the devastating
earthquake of 1755. Today, the fortress stands majestically on the
right bank of the Guadiana River, on the natural border between
Portugal and Spain, in a strategic position that allows visitors to
admire the landscape around it in every direction.
As the fortress stands in the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, a protected
area committed to preserving the natural night sky, lighting it
presented a fascinating challenge. The project was carried out in
collaboration with a team from the Lisbon School of Architecture,
and it aimed to enhance the restoration and ensure the monument
could be seen from a distance without compromising the integrity of
the surrounding environment or the visibility of the starry night skies.
From the outset, the design team planned to use warm lighting
(2700K for the exterior walls and 3000K for the interior and the
church), chosen to respect the limits for light pollution while
still guaranteeing visitor safety. Light intensity was reduced to a
minimum. The light output was precisely distributed by Ginko 2.0
fixtures, which were used with various optics, including elliptical
ones. Horizontal elliptical optics were used along the exterior walls
to ensure maximum uniformity, while vertical light beams were
used for the towers and prominent corners. To further optimise
light management, honeycomb louvres were built into the fixtures
Juromenha Fortress: Historical heritage
enhanced by sustainable lighting
Location
Juromenha, Alandroal, Portugal
Application
Facades
Light planning
Pedro Telhado, Light2Life
Photography
Helena Martins
to reduce glare. These solutions have ensured uniform, efficient
lighting that minimises light spills.
The lighting tests conducted on Portugal’s National Castle Day
confirmed the choice of technological solutions, which strictly
comply with the Dark Sky Reserve standards. The use of finishes
such as corten for the poles and the fixtures, together with the
careful management of luminous fluxes, has guaranteed a perfect
balance between enhancing the historical heritage and respecting
the natural environment.
This project perfectly demonstrates how responsible, carefully
designed lighting can protect historical heritage and respect the
environment while at the same time offering a unique experience to
visitors to the Juromenha Fortress, bringing out its beauty without
compromising the natural night sky.
“Light2Life has worked with the Dark Sky Reserve team for many
years. For the Fortaleza de Juromenha, the goal was to illuminate the
building so that it would stand out for locals, the surrounding cities
and visitors, while respecting the extremely sensitive environment
of the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve. The colour temperature was set at
2700K from the outset, and lux levels were adjusted after numerous
detailed light tests. The final solution involved the use of 4-metre-
long square corten light poles, with several Ginko 2.0 fixtures
installed on all four sides. To ensure the greatest possible uniformity
along all the outer walls, we used horizontal elliptical optics, while
vertical optics were used to highlight the main corners and towers.”–
Pedro Telhado, Lighting Designer at Light2Life
