This British city is situated on the north bank of the Thames, next to a sea port and a fortress. Initially built to house railway and port workers, Tilbury became a major point of defense for England, along with neighboring town Gravesend, due to the narrowness of the Thames at this point. The forts constructed in Tilbury and Gravesend under Henry VII, due to this narrowness in the river, were of major importance as defenses during several wars, including during the Armada campaigns of 1588.

Leixões is Portugal's largest artificially constructed harbor and is situated near the city of Porto. Porto is known for its famous port wine. The port city is characterized by its picturesque quaintness. Closely packed houses, steep cliffs and numerous terraces contribute to this cosy atmosphere.

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Guecho or Getxo, as it is known in its native Basque, is a town in Biscay in Northern Spain. As one of the larger population centres in the region, it was one of the areas which came under fire during the Basque Conflict.

The French port of Brest in Brittany is situated on the extreme western tip of France. The harbor is one of the major naval ports in France. In the city there is an old fortress, from which one gets a good view of the marina. In one of the towers is a museum, the "Musée de la Marine," in which there is much information on the history of the harbor and the marina.