The medieval castle of Longroiva, classified as a national monument, is one of the most important examples of military Templar architecture of Beira Interior and one of the best testimonies to Romanesque castle in the region. Built on an alleged castro pre-Roman, erected between the centuries IV and II century BC, its construction will coincide with a significant outbreak of settlement in the region, in the early 12TH century, having belonged to the order of the temple and to the order of Christ. In the 18th century, with the progressive loss of importance of the town, has been documenting the progressive ruin of the Castle and, in the 19th century, the Castle passed to serve as supply of stone for construction and the interior of the castle was turned into a cemetery, which still today preserves use. In the 20th century, ali performed investigations have revealed some of the original structures, such as the cistern, and the conservation work allowed still remain parts of the walls and the keep, which was one of the first to be built in Portugal, second epigraph dated to 1174.



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Castelo de Longroiva

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A Torre do Relógio localiza-se no Morro do Castelo da Mêda, na cidade, Freguesia e Concelho de mesmo nome, Distrito da Guarda, em Portugal.

Ergue-se no alto de um monte granítico, dominando a cidade. Mêda inscreve-se no Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa e na Região de Turismo do Douro Sul.

História

Antecedentes

A primitiva ocupação humana de seu sítio remonta a um castro pré-histórico, cujos vestígios ainda subsistem.

O castelo medieval

A atual estrutura remontará a uma simples torre de vigia, que terá existido na Idade Média.

Mêda recebeu foral de D. Manuel I (1495-1521) em 1 de Junho de 1519.

No século XVII ali foi edificada uma capela sob a invocação de Nossa Senhora da Assunção.

Posteriormente, no século XIX foi erigida a Torre do Relógio. O conjunto encontra-se em bom estado de conservação, no centro histórico da cidade.

No início do século XXI, a vila foi elevada a cidade (9 de Dezembro de 2004).

Características

A torre apresenta planta no formato quadrangular, em alvenaria de granito, abundante na região, encimada por ameias.

O conjunto engloba, no total, uma área aproximada de 2.115 hectares.

Torre do Relógio (Mêda)

O Castelo de Marialva, na Beira Alta, localiza-se na vila de Marialva, Freguesia e Concelho de Mêda, Distrito da Guarda, em Portugal.

No topo de um penedo granítico, em posição dominante sobre a vila e a planície cortada pela antiga estrada romana, encontra-se estrategicamente colocado na região fronteiriça do rio Côa (Ribacôa). Verdadeiro complexo medieval, suas raízes mergulham no passado histórico de Portugal, ligando-se ao trágico destino dos Távoras.

História

Antecedentes

Embora carecendo de maiores estudos acredita-se que a primitiva ocupação humana deste sítio remonte a um castro dos Aravaros, uma das várias tribos em que se dividiam os Lusitanos (não confundir com Ávaros, povo que só viria a surgir na Era Cristã e nunca pisou solo português). Após a Invasão romana da Península Ibérica, sob o reinado dos imperadores Adriano e Trajano novas obras terão ampliado a povoação que se constituiu em cidade, denominada nos primeiros séculos da Era Cristã como Civitas Aravorum. Dominando a antiga estrada romana que ligava Celorico da Beira ao Douro, a urbe se espraiava das faldas da elevação à planície circundante, conforme o testemunho de restos de construções e da documentação epigráfica resgatadas arqueológicamente do subsolo da Devesa.

Ocupada sucessivamente por Visigodos (que a denominaram como Castro de São Justo), e por Muçulmanos, a povoação entrou em decadência nos séculos seguintes.

À época da Reconquista cristã da península, foi tomada aos mouros por Fernando Magno (1063), admitindo-se que existisse uma fortificação à época.

O castelo medieval

D. Afonso Henriques (1112-1185) encontrou a povoação abandonada. Para incentivar o seu repovoamento e defesa, passou-lhe Carta de Foral, garantindo privilégios não só aqueles que por iniciativa régia ali se estabeleciam na ocasião, mas a todos os que assim o fizessem no futuro. Embora esse documento não apresente data, acredita-se que tenha sido passado posteriormente a 1158, admitindo-se a data de (1179). Acredita-se que a primitiva feição de seu castelo remonte a esta fase, a partir da observação das características construtivas do aparelho da muralha e de uma das torres.

Na transição para o século XIII, o rei D. Sancho I (1185-1211) prosseguiu as obras de edificação do castelo, ampliando-lhe os muros que passaram a envolver a vila. O seu filho e sucessor, D. Afonso II (1211-1223), confirmou-lhe o foral (1217).

Em 1296 D. Dinis (1279-1325) partiu de Castelo Rodrigo à invasão de Castela, reivindicando as terras além do Côa, que efetivamente vieram a ser incorporadas a Portugal pelo Tratado de Alcanizes (1297). Nesse contexto, Marialva incluía-se no rol das povoações atendidas por aquele monarca, e assim lhe foi procedida a reconstrução do castelo. Este soberano instituiu, em 1286, a feira mensal de três dias, oferecendo privilégios a quem ali praticasse o comércio, visando o mesmo objetivo de incentivo ao povoamento. À época, a vila já se espalhava extramuros, na direção Norte.

Quando da crise de 1383-1385, Marialva e seu castelo tomaram o partido do Mestre de Avis.

No século XV, D. Afonso V (1438-1481) concedeu-lhe o título de condado tendo D. Vasco Fernandes Coutinho recebido o título de conde de Marialva (1440).

No século XVI várias intervenções foram promovidas: por D. Manuel I (1495-1521), que passou o Foral Novo à vila (1515), pelo Infante D. Fernando (irmão de D. João III (1521-1557) e marido de D. Guiomar Coutinho, filha do último conde de Marialva), e por D. Sebastião ainda sob a regência de D. Catarina d'Áustria (1557-1562). Desta última intervenção é testemunha a data de 1559, inscrita na muralha.

A época da Restauração

À época da Restauração da independência portuguesa, o antigo castelo sofreu nova campanha de obras, quando um baluarte foi adossado aos muros. Nesse período, D. Afonso VI (1656-1667) elevou a vila à condição de marquesado, cujo título foi concedido a António Luís de Meneses, nomeado conde de Cantanhede em reconhecimento pelos serviços prestados na Guerra da Restauração, em particular em Elvas e em Montes Claros.

Os Távoras e a decadência

As "Memórias Paroquiais de 1758" referem que, no início do século XVIII, as muralhas, as quatro torres e as quatro portas, se encontravam em perfeito estado. Entretanto, na segunda metade do mesmo século a situação se inverteu: a tentativa de regicídio contra D. José I (1750-1777), em 1758, causou profundas repercussões na vila de Marialva, uma vez que era seu alcaide à época, o marquês de Távora, um dos principais implicados no atentado. A partir do sentenciamento da família em Lisboa, no ano seguinte, a população da vila passou a abandoná-la, resumindo-se os seus moradores à área extramuros dos arrabaldes a Oeste e da Devesa, no sopé da encosta a Sul hoje o local mais desenvolvido de Marialva.

A recuperação do monumento

Apenas no final do século XX é que este conjunto arquitetónico despertou o interesse público, tendo sido classificado como Monumento Nacional através do Decreto de 12 de Setembro de 1978. A formalização de um protocolo entre o IPPC e a Câmara Municipal de Meda (1986), possibilitou a realização de obras de recuperação e beneficiação no conjunto monumental.

Castelo de Marialva

The Castle of Castelo Melhor (Portuguese: Castelo de Castelo Melhor) is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Castelo Melhor, in the municipality of Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Portuguese Guarda. The castle is one of the best examples of secondary medieval fortresses, erected in one of the more peripheral zones of the peninsular kingdoms.

History

During the pre-Roman era, the site was occupied by a castro founded by the Turduli peoples.

By the 12th century, the land was already occupied by Leonese forces. The project was conceived by the Leonese and began in the 13th century, a period that corresponded to intense fortification of the lines of Riba-Côa, an area that was constantly in dispute between the Portuguese and Castilian monarchs. It was in this context that King D. Alfonso VII of León conceded a foral (charter) to Castelo Melhor between 1209 and 1210, simultaneously ordering the construction of the "castle", in order to consolidate the population and military, which would become important in the succeeding centuries.

As a consequence of the Treaty of Alcanices, in 1297, the land was integrated into Portuguese territory. On 12 June 1298, King D. Dinis confirmed the privileges issued during Leonese dominion, affirming the importance of the new space. At the same time, he ordered work on the castle and dotted on the town a new administrative purpose, even as it continued to project a secondary military importance within the military lines of Riba-Côa.

This minor statute was supported by King Denis. In addition to its transformation and later ruins, he limited the reformulation to the "entrance system to the castle, whose gate began to be flanked by two rectangular towers". This solution, by its scenographic and authoritarian symbolism transmitted regal authority in the region. Parallel with the perimeter wall, the generally circular and singular tower were "oriented toward the settlement, protecting the unique flank where access was possible". Denis's confirmation of Alfonso's privileges, which avoided any sudden changes to the population or administrative organization of the town, but added a keep tower.

In the last quarter of the 14th century, the first repairs were completed on the castle, during the reign of King D. Fernando. Between 1383 and 1385, during the dynastic crisis, the castle became the dominion of the Kingdom of Castile. Following the Treaty of Monção, on 29 November 1389, the Portuguese crown obtained the squares of Olivença, Noudar, Mértola, Castelo Mendo and Castelo Melhor, while ceding Salvaterra and Tui.

In the first quarter of the 15th century, repairs were undertaken during the reign of Kings D. John I and D. Afonso V. At the beginning of this century (in 1422) the Rol dos Besteiros, refers to the Castelo Melhor included some 1704 inhabitants. King Afonso V was obliged to confer on Castelo Melhor the status of town, integrating it with the municipality of Almendra, resulting in the municipality of Almendra e Castelo Melhor. During the 1496 Inquirição (royal inquiries) there were only 204 inhabitants in the territory.

At the end of the 15th century, King D. John II donated the lands of Castelo Melhor to João Fernandes Cabral for 4000 crowns for his marriage to Joana Coutinho. In the following century, many of the important noble families became affixed to the alcalde of the castles, and the fortress fell into the hands of the Cabral, whom were responsible for the alcalde of Belmonte. But, even as Belmonte became the seat of their power, resulting the construction of their seat, in Castelo Melhor, little remained. Around this time (1527), Castelo Melhor was mentioned in the Cadastro da População do Reino (Kingdoms Population Cadastre) as being a part of the town of Almendra. In 1584, it was elevated to the status of seat of the countship, in favor of Rui Mendes de Vasconcelos.

During the context of the Restoration Wars, in 1640, an artillery battery was constructed on the eastern flank of the hilltop.

In the 18th century, Castelo Melhor was already a subordinate to Almendre and its donataries were the Counts of Castelo Melhor.

On 17 April 1758, in the Memórias Paroquiais, signed by the parish priest, José Gonçalves da Guerra, the settlement was acknowledged as a donatary fiefdom of D. José de Caminha Vasconcelos e Sousa, Faro, Távora e Veiga, Count of Castelo Melhor, and included a population of 89 residents. The castle was granted the title of seat of the county, without garrison, but defensible by necessity.

In 1766, the town was elevated to the status of marquesship in favour of the 4th Count, José de Vasconcelos e Sousa Caminha da Câmara Faro e Veiga (the last titular was the 7th Marquess, Elena Maria de Vasconcelos e Sousa Ximenes).

In 1855, the municipality of Almendra e Castelo Melhor was extinguished, in favor of the municipality of Vila Nova de Foz Côa.

Architecture

The castle of Castle Melhor is situated in a rural region, 450 metres (1,480 ft) above sea level, overlooking an urban settlement on the right margin of the Côa River. The Douro River is situated some 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the north, while the Côa River is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the west. Its courtyard is built on the rock covered surface integrating large boulders.

The castle follows an irregular polygonal form on the hilltop. The damaged walls consist of small schist stone with 3–6 metres (9.8–19.7 ft) without merlons and access staircase to the battlements, with a triple arch gate in the northwest. A circular tower is located behind the northern wall. Between the gate and tower are the vestiges of a reinforcement wall, similar to a structure along the south wall, that indicate the former existence of a barbican. Three conical corbels are behind the eastern and northwestern portion of the wall. A circular cistern, without covering is situated in the northeast part of the courtyard, with various remnants of rectangular buildings in the courtyard.

Castle of Castelo Melhor

The Castle of Penedono (Portuguese: Castelo de Penedono) is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Penedono e Granja, in the municipality of Penedono, Portuguese district of Viseu.

History

The castle of Penedono was one fortresses referred in the donation of D. Flâmula (or Chamôa Rodrigues) to the Monastery of Guimarães (on 11 June 960); it was mentioned part of the properties inherited from her mother, D. Leodegúndia Dias, the daughter of Count Diogo Fernandes and his wife D. Oreca. At the time of testament, the document had recommended the sale of the structure, in order for its monies to be used to help pay the ransom of captives, support pilgrims and assist monasteries. The donation had the effect of securing an important strategic point and organizational linchpin of the Beira Alta Interior region. Nothing is recorded of the original configuration of the redoubt.

The oldest documented records date from the early Christian Reconquest of the area from the Moors; there is a reference to the area being repopulated after the victory of Ramiro II of León over the Moorish forces at the Battle of Simancas, in 939 AD. Penedono remained a border castle for several years, but in 987, it was reconquered by armies of Almanzor. The castle was retaken from the Moors by forces loyal to Ferdinand I of León between 1055 and 1057. The defense of the territory was then entrusted to Rodrigo Tedoniz, who set about the reconstruction of the castle. By 1059, though, it was already in the possession of the Monastery of São Salvador de Guimarães.

In 1195, in order to improve the strategic position of the border territory, King D. Sancho I conceded the region's first Foral (charter) to Pena de Domus, the medieval designation for the burgh. This foral was confirmed in 1217, by King D. Afonso II.

By the end of the 14th century, D. Fernando donated Penedono to Trancoso, whose signeurs wanted to tear down the castle. The senior residents of Penedono petitioned the King to stop this intention and to return the municipality to its status. At that time, Penedono disputed with Trancoso being the birthplace of the legendary knight Magriço.

The castle was partially rebuilt over the existing structures, under the initiative of D. Vasco Fernandes Coutinho, to whom D. Fernando donated the castle. Many of the great men of the town petitioned D. John I to confirm his son, Gonçalo Vasques Coutinho, as the master of the lands, owing to Gonçalo's repeatedly placing his shield men and soldiers in the defence of the castle. The castle was the supposed birthplace of D. Álvaro Gonçalves Coutinho, celebrated by Luís de Camões as o Magriço, one of the legendary twelve knights that went to England to defend the honour of twelve damsels in the Corte of the Lancasters. Between 1471 and 1530, under the authority of D. Francisco Coutinho, Count of Marialva, and responsible for the public works in the Comarca of Beira, the castle was transformed into a residence. A new foral was the issue on 27 November 1512. Through the alcalde, the settlement paid to the Crown 2$970 cruzeiros annually. By 1527, the cadastre for the kingdom indicated that this population included 486 homes.

The 1758 Memórias Paroquiais, included a description of the castle, that was constructed of small stone and mortar.

Visited by Alexandre Herculano, the fortress of Penedono was encountered in ruins at the time and remained until the 20th century. In the 1940s, as part of the commemorations of the 300th anniversary of the Portuguese Restoration, promoted by the Portuguese Estado Novo government, the castle was recuperated and renovated. Between 1940 and 1941, the DGEMN (General Directorate of National Buildings and Monuments) was responsible for excavations and debris involved in the construction of the mixed masonry walls, with lime mortar and sand. In addition, the stairs, landings and pavements were replaced with slabs of masonry. Further work in 1949, the third-floor plan and tower were repaved, there were repairs of the ceilings, installation of new doors and re-landscaping the accessways. Consolidation of the joints and consolidation of the parapets proceeded in 1953, along with arranging the stairs, false ceilings, construction of a granite staircase to connect the adarves and installation of ironwork grades to protect the battlements.

In 1959 the spaces were cleaned and the doors were repaired. It was only in 1966 that the castle was illuminated. Further work was begun in 1969, that included the installation of oak ceilings, passage to the tower, cleaning and removal of weeds along the battlements, walls, merlons, staircases, pavements and accesses, leveling of the floors and substitution of the locks.

In 1972, there was a study of the castle and its surroundings.

Various projects began in 1983, to consolidate and repair the barbican and walls of the castle, that included covering holes in the granite, mortaring cracks and joints, repairing the pyramidal merlons, support beams, the iron staircase and complimentary handrail. The spaces were also repainted.

A risk analysis by the DGEMN was undertaken at the castle in October 2005.

Architecture

The castle is situated in an isolate, urban area, implanted on a 930 metres (3,050 ft) rocky, hilltop and granite range that is part of the Serra de Serigo. The landscape is accessible by a frontal square by large granite landings and staircase and urbanized portions of Penedono that extend to the south and west. The square allows access to the town pillory and the old building of the municipal council (Portuguese: Antiga Casa da Câmara).

The polygonal plan forms an irregular heptagon, with a 70 metres (230 ft) perimeter, encircled by an undecorated, low barbican that accompanies the same elevation of the rocky hilltop. It is only broken to the southwest, by the irregular staircase and landing leading to the two slender towers at its entrance. To the right of the gate is a small, isolated line of walls. The castle's walls are crowned along its perimeter by parallelpetic merlons with pyramidal tops, some with the arrowslits, and reinforced on its corners by five rectangular corners. Situated along irregular intervals are balconies with micholletes and gargoyles, in addition to arrowslits.Between the two towers to the southwest, is a walkway with guardrail over the cornice, supporting a large arch over which is a rounded doorway (accessible by a flight of curved staircase) surmounted by a framed tympanum. The remaining walls are broken by rectangular arrowslits and fenestrations.

Within the walls are vestiges of the Alcazaba that include stairs that lead to the battlements that encircle the walls and tower landings. Some of the windows, with different cutouts, that suggests the existence of an intermediate floor. In the largest tower is a domed vault with rectangular window, in front of which is a polygonal cistern with a covered cross vault. At the beginning of the battlements are vestiges of primitive constructions.

Castle of Penedono

The Castle of Numão (Portuguese: Castelo de Numão) is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Numão, municipality of Vila Nova de Foz Côa, in the Portuguese district of Guarda.

History

Early History

The earliest evidence of human settlement dates to prehistoric times, as far back as the Neolithic period. It is believed that the Lusitanians lived here and later became subjects to the Roman Empire With the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, a fort saw its construction there.

Medieval era

During the context of the Christian Reconquest of the region, the fortress and a few others in the regions belonged to a man named Chamoa Rodriguez. At the time of the Christian Reconquest, here existed a castle, which together with others in the eastern border region, belonged to D. Chamoa Rodrigues, who donated, through his aunt, the Countess Mumadona Dias, the Monastery of Guimarães (960 ).

Retaken by Muslim forces in 1000, the village was later devastated by the brothers Tedom and Rausendo Ramires in 1030, only to be reconquered by Fernando Magno in 1055 or 1056. In this period, the castle is among the inventoried property belonging to the Monastery of Guimarães in 1059.

With the independence of Portugal, Afonso I of Portugal (1112-1185) donated his dominions to his brother, Ferdinand Mendes de Bragança. The noble, on 8 July 1130, granted a charter to the town (referred to as Civitate Noman) and promoted the rebuilding of the castle.

Later, under the reign of Afonso's son and successor, Sancho I (1185-1211), massive works of recovery of the walls and the erection of the main tower were completed as epigraphic inscription (now lost) dated 1189.

Under the reign of King Sancho II (1223-1248), the areas of Numão and its castle were donated temporarily to April Peres Lumiares.

In October 1265, Afonso III (1248-1279) confirmed the charter to the village. A new constructive phase in their defenses, however, will only have taken place from the confirmation of this title by King Dinis (1279-1325), on 27 October 1285.

When the 1383-85 Portuguese succession crisis, Numão sided by Beatriz, along with the neighboring villages and castles of Penedono, Pinhel, Sabugal, Castelo Rodrigo and Trancoso.

Under the short reign of D. Duarte (1433-1438) was established here one of couto homiziados (1436), which seems to indicate some difficulty with its settlement. The village received Foral New King Manuel I (1495-1521) on 25 August 1512. At the time it was Commendation of the Order of Christ. The Register of Population of the Kingdom in 1527, shows that Numão village had 15 fires, and 41 more in their surroundings.

With the extinction of family Coutinhos for lack of descendants (1534), the town and its castle had their aggravated decay process: two centuries later the village was changed-to a new location at the foot of the hill. Frei Joaquim de Santa Rosa de Viterbo refers, in 1798-1799, the castle was practically ruined and that the door "which is to the West" was in one epigraphic inscription, who transcribed: "Incepit Tvrrem in was MCCXXVII" (corresponding to 1189 in our calendar).

The Institute for the Management of Architectural and Archaeological Heritage classified it as a National Monument by decree published on June 23, 1910.

The government intervened in the second half of the 1940s by proceeding with works of consolidation and cleaning, rebuilding walls, desentulhamento the tank and recovery the donjon. New works campaigns took place in 1973-1974, due to the collapse of a section north of the walls, and in 1984.

In the early twenty-first century, the municipality did install stage lighting.

Architecture

The castle is a typical mountain castle, standing on a rocky hill 677 meter above sea level. It presents irregular oval plant (organic), with elements of Romanesque and Gothic styles, occupying an area of 336 hectares. The walls, crenellated in a short stretch, are reinforced by towers (originally fifteen, currently six), some of which addorsed the outside. 

At the center of the main square opens up a circular plan tank with about seven meters in diameter without coverage. Next to the main door observe the ruins of the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo (Romanesque) and the cemetery.

The Watchtower, the Northeast, has square plan, with walls torn by two high slits and surmounted by corbels of geometric decoration.

On the slope east, near the gate of St. Peter and where there was a homonymous chapel, there is a necropolis with about 10 anthropomorphic graves dug into the rock, popularly known as Cemetery of the Moors.

Castle of Numão

The Castle of Castelo Rodrigo (Portuguese: Castelo de Castelo Rodrigo) is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Castelo Rodrigo in the municipality of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, district of Guarda.

History

It is believed that the castle was founded in VI century based on legends. After the village was conquered by Alfonso IX of León, he ordered to build the castle and reinforce the defensive line. The name of the village, as well as the castle comes from the name of the Count Rodrigo Gonzalez de Girón who was responsible for the defense of the castle. The Castelo Rodrigo was incorporated into the Kingdom of Portugal in 1297 with the Treaty of Alcañices between King Denis of Portugal and King Fernando IV of Castile.

The fortress and walled fence were rebuilt, and 13 turrets, Menagem Tower (keep), a barbican and moats were constructed by D.Denis in the XIV century.

It has been listed as a National monument since 1922.

Architecture

The configuration of the castle surrounding the village is oval. Existing sections of wall have attached constructions, with the exception in North and East sides. In the West and South sides of the castle there are towers or turrets in circular shape of which 4 are still standing with their collapsed tops.

On the East there is a quadrangular ledge, and on the North there is a partially crumbled square-shaped tower. Three doors are remaining: the Door of the Sun (turned to the East), The Door of the Alverca (turned to the North) and the Door of Betrayal.

Castle of Castelo Rodrigo

Trancoso Castle and Walls
The irregularly shaped wall and citadel of the castle still survive in a good state of repair, thus contributing towards the mediaeval atmosphere in Trancoso.

According to historical data, the castle already existed in the 10th century but was only integrated within Portuguese territory in 1160 when it was conquered from the Moors by the first King of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques. Given that Trancoso is a strategic point for defence of the border, the architectural complex was subject to various improvements and reinforcement works over the centuries. The most significant intervention was commissioned by D. Dinis, in 1282, when he ordered the wall to be constructed.

It is possible to enter the town through one of the four gates: the Porta d'El Rei to the South West, the Porta do Prado to the North West, and the Porta do Carvalho and Porta da Traição to the North.

The most impressive gate and the main entrance to Trancoso, is the Porta d'El Rei. It was given this name in reference to the works commissioned in the 13th century by the King D. Dinis, whose coat of arms appears on the upper section, alongside those of the municipality. There are 11 existing towers -- 4 in the wall and 7 in the citadel -- the most important of which is the Keep. The Keep is a Mozarab construction with a square layout and a strange configuration - the body narrows towards the top, terminating in the battlements. One of the towers encloses the ruins of the Chapel of Santa Bárbara.

On the north-east side, the castle attains the highest point of the plateau on which it is located -- 875 metres above sea level, thus making it an excellent belvedere over the surrounding area. On the horizon it is possible to see the Serra da Estrela mountain range to the south, Marofa to the west and the hills of Penedono to the North.


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Castelo de Trancoso

Pinhel Castle, the guardian of one of the oldest towns in the country, is a fine example of Portugal's unique Manueline architecture.

Surrounded by walls and rivers, and lying at the heart of a system of fortifications that included the castles of Trancoso, Marialva and Castelo Mendo, Pinhel was one of the most advanced strongholds in this part of Portugal until the 13th century.

The robust walls, with their six gates and two towers, were built in 1385. On the northern side, be sure to see the beautiful Manueline window, which illuminates a vaulted hall topped by one of the symbols of D. Manuel I’s power, the armillary sphere. During the French invasions in 1810 meanwhile, the castle and the town were occupied by General Loisson.

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