Associação Portuguesa dos Amigos dos Castelos- APAC
The APAC, a non-profit association, founded in 1983, is a national association for the defense of heritage, and its objectives are the safeguarding and dissemination of natural and built heritage, with a special focus on fortified and military heritage, raising awareness and involving people and communities in their preservation. To fulfill its mission, the association promotes or collaborates in the organization of numerous cultural and scientific activities aimed at different audiences.
In 2003, the APAC was approved as ONG (Non-Governmental Organization of Environmental Interest) by decision of the Institute of the Environment, which increased its capacity to intervene in the safeguarding of the natural and built heritage, and in 2008 it was granted the status of Public Utility. This Association is linked to different Entities as the Forum Heritage, an institution that brings together several civil society associations in the defense of cultural heritage built for greater effectiveness of action on the ground. Since February 2024 our Association was accepted as membership of IFC.
The APAC activity is distributed in three different areas:
Heritage
Our castles and fortresses, together with their cultural and landscape surroundings, give a unique sense of identity to each place. In some cases, this meaning is more comprehensive, assuming a national, or even international, importance.
Through the Heritage area we seek to develop activities that deepen knowledge about these fortified sites, but also about other areas of our history and culture. In this sense, we developed scientific activity as courses, conferences, congresses and research projects, as well as various activities with other partners for the preservation and enhancement of heritage.
Divulgation
The APAC organize weekly study visits to different monuments, museums, cultural institutions, towns and cities in Portugal and abroad.
These visits, always accompanied by specialized technicians or researchers, aim to make known and interpret history and cultural heritage, in its different aspects and typologies.
Education
One of the main concerns is the implementation of heritage education programs, aimed at the school public and families. We intend to contribute so that our historical-cultural heritage can be considered by educational agents as a true pedagogical resource. Our proposal includes didactive projects, routes, workshops, and others activities. The Education Department is also responsible for the cultural promotion of the São Bruno Fort, in Caxias, through several initiatives.
The Association’s headquarters are located in the fort of São Bruno, in Caxias (Oeiras); the secretariat is located in Lisbon – Rua Barros Queirós, 20 ,1º Esq. -1100-077 Lisboa
Site – https://amigosdoscastelos.pt/