The Fortress of Our Lady of the Assumption in Fortaleza sits strategically at the mouth of the Pajeú stream overlooking Guanabara Bay. Originally erected by the Dutch in the mid-17th century as Fort Schoonenborch, it was renamed and restructured under Portuguese control after 1654. The fortress features a distinctive square design with 90-meter sides, corner bastions dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, São José, Dom João, and Príncipe da Beira, symbolizing both military and religious authority. Initially armed with 27 cannons, it grew into the founding fortress around which the city of Fortaleza developed. The structure remains in military use today, serving as headquarters for the 10th Military Region of the Brazilian Army, with public access available by appointment only.
