Little more than 170 kilometres southeast of Lisbon, near the historical city of Reguengos de Monsaraz, we find a landscape typical of the Baixo Alentejo region. It is here, amongst rolling plains, shallow valleys, occasional streams, corn fields, vineyards and olive groves, we find Herdade do Esporão.

Hill-top farms and small, whitewashed villages guard the memory of life that goes back to the Prehistoric times of tapirs and dolmens, then Iberians, Romans, Visigoths and Muslims and the many others who once settled here.

The Medieval history of the region began with the Reconquista of Monsaraz and Reguengos in 1232. Since then, wine and olive oil have become an indelible aspect of the region. The geographical boundaries of Herdade do Esporão (originally Defesa do Esporão) were only established in 1267, and have been practically unchanged since then, despite being the setting for bloody battles and heroic deeds over almost nine centuries.

Soeiro Rodrigues, the judge of the city of Évora, was the first of many owners, who included Santiago Rodrigues de Vasconcelos, the Morgado D. Álvaro Mendes de Vasconcelos (who built the Esporão Tower) and the counts of Alcáçovas, who retained the property until 1973, the year it was acquired by José Roquette and Joaquim Bandeira.

In 1985, the first vintage saw the creation of the Esporão brand and the first wine produced by what was then Finagra, S.A.. In 1989, wine began being exported to what is now over 50 international markets.

Eight years later, Esporão entered the olive oil business with the acquisition of SPAZA (Sociedade Produtora de Azeites do Alentejo) – now Esporão Azeites.

At the heart of Herdade do Esporão stand three historical monuments: the Esporão Tower, the Esporão Arch and the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Chapel, which is linked to intense and devout worship in the region that sees local people form a procession when the rains come late. The Esporão Tower, a symbol of standing in society and military power, is one of the most important towers illustrating the transition from Medieval times to the Modern Age in Portugal.

Today, the archaeological complex is an important benchmark for research into recent European pre-history.

https://www.esporao.com

Castelo de Esporão

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The Castle of Monsaraz (Castelo de Monsaraz) is a picturesque castle perched on the highest point in the walled village of Monsaraz in the Alto Alentejo region.

The castle dominates the small village of less than 800 inhabitants from its position on the hill.

The area was under the control of the Moors before it was stormed by the legendary Portuguese warrior Geraldo Sem Pavor (Gerald the Fearless) in 1167. This was part of the campaign that also saw the capture of the Castle of Evoramonte (Castelo de Evoramonte).

It was then given to the Knights Templar and later the Order of Christ to garrison. The castle became one of a series of forts kept by King Dinis (1261-1325) to protect the border with Castile.

As well as the castle, further protection is afforded by the city walls. The main entrance to the village is through Porta da Vila, reinforced by two towers. Another gate, the Porta d'Evora, is also guarded by a rectangular tower.

During the Portuguese Restoration War (Guerra da Restauração) in the mid-17th century the castle's defences were strengthened.

By the next century as the area's administration moved west to the town of Reguengos de Monsaraz, the castle began to fall into disrepair. It was declared a National Monument in 1946 and has been subsequently restored.

As is usual with castles in Portugal there are amazing views from the top as far as Lake Alqueva and even Spain in the distance.

https://www.portugalvisitor.com

Castelo de Monsaraz

The Castle of Portel (Portuguese:Castelo de Portel) is a medieval castle located in the municipality of Portel in the district of Evora in Portugal.

History

Middle ages

Construction was started during the reign of King Denis (1279-1325).

In the context of the 1383-85 Portuguese Interregnum crisis, Fernão Gonçalves de Sousa, mayor of Portel, took the sides with the Kingdom of Castile, and for fear of the residents rebelling, took their weapons to all and put them in the castle. In November 1384, the development of the Alentejo campaign by the forces of the Constable D. Nuno Alvares Pereira, a cleric of Portel, name John Matthew, opened them the village doors, facilitating the achievement of settlement and surrender the castle. When the crisis was over, the land was donated back to the House of Braganza. Later, under the reign of King Manuel I, the town and its castle are figured by Duarte de Armas (Book of Fortresses, c. 1509). At that time the castle was remodeled structure giving way to the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza and a barbican (1510), getting the works in charge of the architect-royal Francisco de Arruda, for instance D. Jaime, Duke of Braganza.

20th century to modern era

Lost its defensive function, away from border and the main access roads to the Alentejo region, the castle was gradually abandoned until becoming ruins in the nineteenth century.

In the early twentieth century, the whole was classified as a National Monument by decree, published on 23 June 1910. The intervention of the government was felt on time, in 1938, at the initiative of the Directorate General for National Buildings and Monuments ( DGEMN).

Property of the House of Braganza Foundation, the degradation of the whole continued to progress until the collapse of a cylindrical tower of the palace and, more recently, in February 1998, a wall portion adjacent to the donjon, an element that had been the subject of intervention in the 1980s the new intervention took place in 1999, in charge of DGEMN through its Regional Directorate South, based on traditional building techniques. The set awaits, however, a comprehensive plan of research and musealization.

Architecture

The castle in the Gothic style, has pentagonal plant reinforced by circular plan towers at the corners. Its shape, novelty in the Portuguese military architecture at the time, seems to have been inspired by the Château d'Angers, France. It is dominated post an imposing donjon of quadrangular plant, which stands at about twenty-five meters high, divided internally into two floors above the parapet line, both covered by rib vault warhead. The lower floor served as a prison. the marble in the wedges and the Gothic windows was used. The access door to the tower is in warhead. This tower protects the access gate to the north, in pointed arch. On the south side, the Beja gate determines an internal road axis in a straight line connecting the two ports. The set has three doors, including the Clock Gate and Outeiro door. In the main square opens up a cistern and can identify the remains of the Chapel of Saint Vincent and the ruins of a palace. The medieval village about, did not survive to us. The defense of the castle was complemented by a barbican, that are conserved still important sections in the south, north and west, composed of curtain reinforced by turrets of quadrangular. It is this Barbican rebuilt by King Manuel I, which corresponds to Gothic door surmounted by overlapping real coats.

Castle of Portel

The Castle of Mourão (Portuguese: Castelo de Mourão) is a well-preserved castle in the town of Mourão, Portugal. It is classified by IGESPAR (the Portuguese government) as a Site of Public Interest.

History

Early history

Little is known about the early occupation of this site. During midst of the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, the area surrounding the castle was the scene of a few clashes between Muslims and Christians.

Medieval history

Before the Portuguese conquest of the region, the fields were donated to the Knights Hospitaller. They were first brought under the control of Gonçalo Egas, having been granted a Foral charter to the town aiming to encourage their settlement and defense in 1226. A will date from this period under the reign ofSancho II (1223–1248), directing the reconstruction of the fortification.

A Foral charter was granted to the town by King Afonso III (1248–1279) in 1254.

Under the reign of King Dinis (1279–1325), the village received a new charter. in 1296, confirmed in 1298. During this period, the original castle was renovated, increasing to three towers.

Habsburgs dynasty to modern day
During the 1383–85 Interregnum crisis, the village suffered one attack and took refuge in the castle. It was relieved by forces of the Order of Aviz.

In 1580, the castle was brought under Habsburg control when Portugal joined Spain in the Iberian Union.

The castle is considered a Public Interest Property by decree on July 18, 1957. Since it is in well conserved condition, the castle is a tourist attraction for the community.

Characteristics

The castle was constructed during the Middle Ages, built with a combination of shale stone, marble and granite. It is reinforced by six quadrangular towers. The doors and towers are influenced by Gothic architecture.

The renovations of the seventeenth century involved fixing the bastions at the corner of the walls and ravelins in front of the curtains.

Castelo de Mourão

O Castelo de Torre de Coelheiros, no Alentejo, localiza-se na freguesia de Torre de Coelheiros, cidade e concelho de Évora e distrito de Évora, em Portugal.

Histórico

Mais propriamente um solar, acredita-se que a Torre de Coelheiros foi construída por volta de 1357, por iniciativa de Fernão Gonçalves, meirinho-mor do rei D. Afonso IV (1325-1357), com a função de paço senhorial.

No século XX, por falta de conservação, partes da edificação ruiram (1920). Considerada como Imóvel de Interesse Público por Decreto publicado em 18 de Julho de 1957, atualmente a edificação encontra-se compreendida no conjunto da Escola Primária e da Junta de Freguesia. Por essa razão, encontra-se em boas condições de conservação.

Características

Típico solar medieval, a edificação da torre é atualmente ladeada por dois corpos retangulares compostos por pavimento térreo e sobrado. A torre, de planta quadrangular, em alvenaria de pedra, atinge 15 metros de altura, coroada por merlões em estilo mourisco. É complementada por cunhais, seteiras e mata-cães aparelhados em cantaria de granito. O corpo lateral a norte, em melhor estado de conservação, é coroado por uma larga chaminé com remate cupular, e conserva ainda, nas janelas em granito, algo da tipologia solarenga tardo-medieval. O corpo a oeste aparenta ser de construção setecentista e encontra-se degradado, tendo ruído parte dos muros.

