Castle is located in the small town of the same name, about twenty kilometers north of the city of Pombal and, unusually, is not built on a hill, like many castles in Portugal, but on a flat terrain on the river bank ... It is believed that the castle was built to protect the monastery, which was located nearby, or the road to the city of Coimbra. Sure Castle is part of a line of defensive structures composed of other castles whose function was to protect Coimbra from enemy attacks.

Presumably the castle was built in the 11th century. However, there is a hypothesis that earlier, back in the 5th-6th centuries, there was a Roman settlement on this place, and the first building was an observation tower. The castle did not last long, and was destroyed during the battle with the Moors. A century later, the place where the castle stood, was donated to Count Fernando Perez de Trava, who was engaged in the restoration of the castle. In the 20th century, the castle was transferred to the city council of the city of Sura. Despite the rather complicated process of paperwork regarding the ownership of the castle, this architectural and historical monument has become the property of the city.

The architecture of the castle combines several styles: medieval Romanesque, Gothic and Manueline style. The facade of the Sure castle is quite simple, and the castle itself is small. At the present time, unfortunately, only ruins remain of the castle, only the walls with four towers located at the corners, a Mozarabian-style window and the Visigoth gate have survived.

Since 1949, Sure Castle has been included in the list of monuments of national importance.

In the 20th century, the castle was transferred to the city council of the city of Sura. Despite the rather complicated process of paperwork regarding the ownership of the castle, this architectural and historical monument has become the property of the city.

The architecture of the castle combines several styles: medieval Romanesque, Gothic and Manueline style. The facade of the Sure castle is quite simple, and the castle itself is small. At the present time, unfortunately, only ruins remain of the castle, only the walls with four towers located at the corners, a Mozarabian-style window and the Visigoth gate have survived.

https://usefultravelarticles.com

Castelo de Soure

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Dominating the valley where the Mondego River runs, with endless rice fields, the town of Montemor-o-Velho is characterized by its imposing castle, the main fortress of Low Mondego during Medieval times.

This extensive land has been successively occupied since Roman times and when the Arabs first settled during the 8th century, the Mondego lands became a constant stage of intense fights between Muslims and Christians.

After the Catholic Reconquista and the Portuguese independence, Montemor-o-Velho and its majestic fortress were the stage of countless events of Portuguese History. The stones of the castle have defended the valley and the river which fertilizes it and have received Kings and Infantas, being closely associated with tales born out of the people’s traditional imagination.

Al-Mansur fortress and the medieval castle

In 911, al-Mansur conquered Montemor-o-Velho and it might have been then that an Islamic fortification with a mosque was built. There is almost nothing left from this ancient space and the castle which now rises upon the Mondego valley is the work of several medieval campaigns. In 1064, after Coimbra was conquered, Montemor-o-Velho was taken over by the Christians and King Alfonso VI of Castile might have rebuilt the defensive structure. During the same period, inside the walls, the Santa Maria da Alcáçova Church was founded and it would be altered many times throughout the following centuries.

Under Afonso Henriques and Sancho I, the structure of the fortress was reinforced because Montemor kept its geo-strategic importance after the Portuguese independence. Infantas Teresa and Mafalda ordered the house inside the castle to be renovated and transformed it into a typical manor house.

The fortress was the centre of many fights throughout the following centuries. King Afonso II didn’t agree with his father’s will which gave the castle to his two sisters, Teresa and Mafalda and it was necessary for the Pope to intervene in order to settle this issue. Later, it would again become the centre of new conflicts, first between Sancho II and Afonso III and then between Prince Afonso and his father, King D. Dinis. Because of its military importance for the Portuguese territory, the regent Prince Peter chose it as his personal palace.

The Destiny of Inês de Castro

Montemor-o-Velho Castle was also the stage of one of the most tragic events in History. It was here that, during the first days of 1355, King Afonso IV and his counsellors met to discuss the danger the marriage between Prince Peter and Inês de Castro would represent to Portuguese politics. She was the daughter of one of the most powerful nobleman of Castile and was living with the heir to the throne since his wife had died in 1345.

The court was not pleased with this connection, especially because Inês’ brothers had great influence over the future King and there was a possibility that the couple’s illegitimate children would one day inherit the throne. Afonso IV was convinced that the relationship between Peter and Inês was an affair of State and that Castro would threaten Portuguese independence… Thus, the fate of Inês was decided and she would be murdered a few days later at Santa Clara Palace in Coimbra, following the King’s order.

Infantas Manor and Tea House

When you visit the castle, you should also enjoy the view of the Mondego rice fields while you drink a cup of tea at the Infantas Manor and Tea House, built on the ruins of the old manor that used to exist inside the fortification. This is a relaxed and modern space with glass walls and a wide terrace perfectly integrated into the walls which will provide you sweet and comforting afternoons.


https://www.centerofportugal.com

Castle of Montemor-o-Velho

The Castle of Pombal (Portuguese: Castelo de Pombal), is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Pombal, municipality of the same name in the district of Leiria in the Centre region of Portugal.

History

Around 1128, the Castle of Pombal, site of a former Roman castro and Arab fortress, was donated to the Knights Templar by Afonso Henriques in order to defend Coimbra, and which included a vast territory of land. The transfer of its control at this time, was seen as an important military position, owing to its successive generations of fortification and disputes between Christian and Muslim forces.

The construction of the Romanesque fortress began in the middle of the 12th century (in either 1155 or 1156), and continued practically until the century's end; the construction of various towers was made to serve, stabilize and reinforce the wall, and help to repopulate the town. It is likely that work started on the encirclement of the position and later to the construction of the keep (around 1171), and includes an alambor, a defensive feature to mitigate attacks close to the walls.

In 1171, the keep was constructed in the castle courtyard; during this period of the passive Reconquista, the keep served as the last defensive bastion, acting as the Lord lieutenants personal stronghold. At the conclusion of the project an inscription was carved over the door to the keep, something promoted by D. Gualdim Pais in the medieval period, while in 1353, the castle and village were donated to the Order of Christ. The plaque was later removed and deposited in the Convent of Christ in Tomar Municipality, on request of Prince Henry the Navigator (between 1420 and 1460).

Little changed during the early Middle Ages to the Romanesque fortification, and only re-thinking of its battlements were identified in the reign of Manuel I of Portugal, which included the definition of the barbican and reinforcement of the medieval walls.

A similar reconstruction of the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo began in 1560, under the alcalde Pedro de Sousa Ribeiro, an antecedent of the Count of Castelo-Melhor, who held the governorship since the reign of Afonso V until 1834.

The castle lost its military importance during the modern era, and was attacked by French forces during the Napoleonic Peninsular War. French troops commanded by General Ney caused sevre damage to the castle during the peninsular invasion in 1811. The following year, the baptismal fountain was transferred from the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo to the Church of São Martinho. Although partially restored in the 20th century, most of the settlement began to concentrate along the flanks of the hilltop or lowlands.

In 1923, a formal request was sent by the Municipal Council of Pombal to the Ministry of War (Portuguese: Ministério da Guerra) soliciting the transfer of the Castle to their authority. The following year, on 7 December 1924, the castle was given by the same ministry to the Núcleo da União dos Amigos dos Monumentos da Ordem de Cristo em Pombal do Castelo. The transfer included land in the village and ancillary terrains, that constituted Military Camp No.1: "in the municipal square the transfer of the ruins of the castle to the Núcleo, demarcated by 32 stone markers, numbered successively from the north to south, from the east, and numbered with the abbreviations M.G....To the Núcleo went the responsibility to conserve and guard the property, with the assistance of the Ministry of War, when necessary; the concession and title was free, with indefinite time limit, while property remained in the hands of the Ministry; the Núcleo was forbidden to perform whatsoever remodelling, even recuperations that involved demolish or new constructions in masonry, or movements of land in the esplanades, without a written license from the Ministry of War". This contract persisted until 1931, when the Núcleu was dissolved: the concession was transferred to the Comissão de Iniciativa e Turismo de Pombal (Pombal Commission for Initiatives and Turismo).

In the years preceding the Portuguese World Exposition in 1940, there were several initiatives to restore or recuperate the site. In 1933, a request to construction a roadway to connect the Castle to Pombal, which was authorized and registered by the Ministry of War. A similar request was sent to the Ministry in 1934, that proposed the planting of trees and landscaping, which was approved by the executive commission of the Municipal Council and authorized by the Conselho Superior de Belas Artes.

In 1936, the stone masonry was repaired and the walls were reconstructed to match those that existed. Similarly, in 1937, more repairs were completed on the walls, including the corners, chemin de ronde, parapets in the southern facade; reconstruction of the stoneworks, chemin de ronde, vaulted arches on the southern and western facade; construction of the roof frame in the keep; construction of pavements and staircase, between the floors of the keep; replacement of the exterior gates; and excavations in the military square. This continued into 1938 with the reconstruction of walls to a state comparable to its original construction; the complete reconstruction of the southern barbican, including the consolidation of the crenelations, battlements and staircases to better resemble its original state.

On 13 April 1939, the Castle was transferred to the Ministry of Finances (Portuguese: Ministério das Finanças). By the time of its transfer, the castle was in a state of ruin, and included an ancillary terrain, covering 25,537 square metres (274,880 sq ft), at the time equivalent to 200.000$00escudos. The castle included walls and barbicans, as well as the main tower/keep, marked by a public road to the north.

The site was only electrified in 1956, while "festive" lighting was installed in 1959, by the Serviços dos Monumentos Nacionais (National Monument Services), in collaboration with the Municipal Council.

The exterior and interior walls were cleaned in 1970, with cement reinforcement of the chemin de ronde, reinforcement of the joints and repairs to the main gate. Likewise, around 1975, the pavement and coverings in the keep were redone, including access stairs; repairs to the second-floor staircase and the construction of a protective covering; the second and third-floors were re-tiled; while the main floor and main gate were cleaned and repaired.

Around 2000-2001, the keep was reassessed with repairs undertaken. In 2004, the Municipal Council of Pombal presented a project to requalify and revalorize the Castle and its grounds, which at the time was being studied by the IPPAR Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico (Portuguese Institute for Architectural Patrimony). Comparably, in 2005, the main keep was converted into a museum. In November, of the same year, a risk assessment for the castle was undertaken by the DGEMN Direcção Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais (General-Directorate for Buildings and National Monuments).

Architecture

The rural castle is located on an elevated hilltop overlooking the town of Pombal, on the right margin of the River Arunca. Alongside its accessway is also located the town's main cemetery.

The structure, in the form of a shield, is encircled by walls and chemin de ronde, broken by prismatic merlons and reinforced at its vertices and regular intervals by rectangular cubels. The principal wall is broken by two arched doors: one to the southeast between towers, and another larger door to the northwest, surmounted by a royal coat-of-arms, between armillary sphere and Christian cross.

The keep tower is a rectangular two-storey structure above a sloping base, close to the southeast gate. This dungeon was later transformed into an exhibition hall for the castle. In the castle courtyard are the visible foundations of other dependencies, as well as the holes of the cistern.

Along the southwest wall, is a double window, with which is a sculpted stone coat-of-arms of the Sousa Ribeiro clan, historical alcaldes of the castle. In front of the southeast gate, to the northwest, are the vestiges of the barbican.

Outside the exterior walls, on a lower terrace on the mountain-top, are the ruins of a second series of walls, with three rectangular towers and a chapel of the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo. The chapel is dressed in square stone, decorated in the Renaissance-style of the period. Observable in one the fragments of the grave-stones of the chapel is the 35-×-75-×-17-metre (115 × 246 × 56 ft) limestone inscription dedicating the grave to Sebastião de Almeida. Of the Renaissance retables originally located in the Church, produced by João de Ruão and Jácome de Bruges, one was relocated to the Church of São Martinho, while another to the Church of the Cardal.

Castle of Pombal

History

Germanelo Castle, situated in the crown of a hill, occupies a strategic position in the defence and control of one of the main entrances to the city of Coimbra.

The castle, 367 above sea level, has a wide visual field on the valley of Rabaçal, territory that medieval documents denote by Ladeia. Since the times of the Roman occupation, it was a corridor of natural circulation. Moreover, the old Roman road is still identifiable from Germanelo castle.

After the final conquest of Coimbra, in 1064, it became important to ensure the establishment of a defence system of the city founded in castle structures and Germanelo castle became part of it. In this southern ring of defence, the excessive distance between Penela and Soure castles, erected by D. Sesnando, weakened the defence of Coimbra. The construction of this castle was initiated in 1142. That same year, D. Afonso Henriques granted a charter letter to the Germanelo community in order to attract people to a border area.

The conquest of Santarém in 1147, by D. Afonso Henriques, shifted the Tejo boundary line, removing much of the strategic importance of the Germanelo fortress that had prompted its construction just five years before.

In the XX century, Salvador Dias Arnaut, professor at the Faculty of Letters of the University of Coimbra, acquired the castle ruins. It was his initiative to rebuild the line of the wall facing north, crowned by seventeen battlements. This decision was taken after a thorough study of written testimonies still in existance that was associated with geological and archaeological studies.

Archaeological excavations conducted at the site in the 1970s, particularly by José Manuel Bairrão Oleiro, located the old doors, the cistern and residential foundations located on the parade.

Today the municipality of Penela manages Germanelo castle, by following the protocol of the descendants of Prof. Dr. Salvador Dias Arnaut.


Characterization

A small enclosure, roughly triangular shaped with curved lines, Germanelo Castle has a 107 perimeter of 107 metres. The section of N. wall, much restored, presents a culmination of 18 niches. Only ruins survive, from other two sections slightly elevated above ground level. A circular pit and traces of foundations denounce the existence of buildings in the small courtyard of weapons.


https://www.castelosemuralhasdomondego.pt

Castelo de Germanelo

Castle of Penela (Portuguese: Castelo de Penela, Portuguese pronunciation: [kɐʃˌtɛɫu dɨ pɨˈnɛɫɐ]) is located in a Penela town in Penela Municipality in Coimbra District, Portugal. The castle was built on a hill dominating the area and used to be a stronghold protecting Coimbra in times of Reconquista. Castle of Penela and the neighboring castle Montemor-o-Velho are both fine examples of defensive structures of that period.

The origins of the name are controversial and are attributed by some authors to ancient Celtic tribes. According to a local legend, King Afonso I (Afonso Henriques) exclaimed to incite his troops storming the stronghold: Coragem! Já estamos com o pé nela! (Courage! We have already set a foot in it!). A more plausible hypothesis is, however, that penela is a diminutive of penha, a place selected to build a fortress on.

History

It is believed that the area was already inhabited before the Roman occupation, and later a Roman watchtower was erected to oversee the nearby road connecting Mérida, Conímbriga and Braga. There is, however, no strong evidence to support this hypothesis, as well as any possible fortifications built here in times of Muslim occupation of the Iberian Peninsula.

Medieval castle

Penela's involvement in the Christian Reconquista starts with the conquest of Coimbra region by the troops of Ferdinand I of León (Fernando Magno) in 1064. In the next year the already walled settlement was granted a status of town along with four other nearby villages. The testament of count Sesnando Davides (1087), to whom the king delegated the administration of Conimbricense county, affirms that the count ruled the castle of Penela and the people in the area.

During the successive Muslim offensives in 1116 and 1117 castles Castelo de Miranda do Corvo and Castelo de Santa Eulália were conquered and destroyed, which caused the desertion of castle Castelo de Soure. These castles provided a line of defence for Coimbra region and now castle Penela was threatened. Perhaps this position was also lost, which would explain king Afonso I Henriques assaulting it in 1129, although this version is not supported by any sources. There are documents attributed to the period when a Chart of Foral was granted to the town, which reference a donation of a house inside the castle dated by 1145. This puts in question the assertion that the castle was conquered in 1148, as it is claimed by historian Frei António Brandão (Monarchia Lusitana, 1632), which is also improbable in context of the Conquest of Santarém, and Lisbon since 1147 when the line of Muslim defences was pushed to river Sado.

The castle played an important role in later periods. For instance, Afonso IV of Portugal (1325-1357) was born and died here.

During the 1383–1385 Crisis, the alcaide (commander of the castle) count Viana sided with Castile. Once as he left the castle to seek provisions, he was ambushed at the gates by commoners. As the count fell from the hill he was decapitated by one of the commoners, whom chronicler Fernão Lopes called Caspirre.

Later Pedro duke of Coimbra undertook extensive works in the castle. He ordered a construction of a ducal palace and church São Miguel. Town's gates were rebuilt as well. The town was granted a permission to hold an annual fair (since 1433) on St Michael's Day (September 29).

The castle and town later became a county with Afonso Vasconcelos e Meneses as the 1st count of Penela. Later the ownership of the castle was passed to the House of Aveiro.

From the earthquake of 1755 to the present day

By the 18th century the castle had lost its defensive value. The earthquake of 1755 destroyed the donjon tower (Clock Tower) and one of the gates. To rebuild the tower in 1760 the stone from the third gate of the castle was used. In the same century after the death of José (1750-1777) the ruling family de Aveiro became extinct.

By the beginning of the 20th century the old castle was abandoned and ruined. This was brought to the public opinion and in 1910 the castle was proclaimed a National Monument. Starting in 1940-s the castle underwent a series of restoration works under the supervision of General Direction of the Buildings and National Monuments.

Castle of Penela

O Forte de Santa Catarina localiza-se na cidade e freguesia de São Julião da Figueira da Foz, concelho de Figueira da Foz, distrito de Coimbra, em Portugal.

Cooperava com a Fortaleza de Buarcos e o Fortim de Palheiros na defesa do porto e da baía da Figueira da Foz e de Buarcos.

História

Antecedentes

Acredita-se, com fundamento histórico, que os alicerces desta fortificação remontam ao reinado de D. João I (1385-1433).

O atual forte
À época da Dinastia Filipina, em Outubro de 1585 alguns homens-bons da Câmara Municipal de Coimbra requereram a Filipe I de Portugal (1580-1598) a construção de um forte, a erguer à entrada da barra do rio Mondego, nos rochedos conhecidos como Monte de Santa Catarina. Em atenção a essa solicitação, as obras de edificação da forte terão sido iniciadas algum tempo depois, com recursos oriundos das rendas da vila de Buarcos, da Universidade de Coimbra, do Cabido e do Mosteiro de Santa Cruz.

Em 1602 a costa da Figueira da Foz foi assolada por corsários ingleses, sendo esse forte saqueado.

No contexto da Restauração da Independência, tendo sido determinado o reforço e modernização das praças do reino pelo Conselho de Guerra de D. João IV (1640-1656), a defesa da costa marítima não foi esquecida. Foram assim iniciadas, em 1643, obras de reforço no Forte de Santa Catarina, quando foi aumentada uma das cortinas da fortificação, ampliando-lhe a artilharia para 15 peças de diferentes calibres.

Em pouco tempo, entretanto, apesar da importância estratégica da defesa da barra do Mondego, informações dão conta de que, em 1680, as instalações do forte apresentavam ruína, sendo então elaborado um orçamento para a sua reedificação. Esta acabou não acontecendo uma vez que, a verba destinada a suas obras acabou por ser consumida em outras despesas da Guerra da Restauração.

No contexto da Guerra Peninsular, em 1808 o forte foi ocupado pelas tropas napoleónicas sob o comando de Jean-Andoche Junot. Alguns meses mais tarde, uma força de duas dezenas de estudantes voluntários da Universidade de Coimbra, sob o comando do Sargento de Artilharia Bernardo António Zagalo (de Ovar) e do Sargento de Infantaria Inácio Caiola, à frente de algumas centenas de populares, forçou a guarnição francesa do forte à rendição a 27 de Junho, conduzindo-a sob prisão para Coimbra, de onde viera. O forte foi ocupado em seguida pelas forças do Almirante Charles Cotton que, no comando da esquadra britânica ao largo da costa portuguesa, pôde dessa forma assegurar o desembarque seguro de 13.000 homens sob o comando de Arthur Wellesley na costa de Lavos, a 1 de Agosto.

Ao longo de todo o século XIX o forte foi citado em sucessivos relatórios, que referiam a necessidade de urgentes obras de reparação, até à perda de sua função militar.

Em 1911 uma parte do espaço do forte foi cedida ao Instituto de Socorros a Náufragos. O restante foi arrendado ao Ténis Club Figueirense alguns anos mais tarde. Terá sido também no alvorecer do século XX que foi edificado o farol de ferro no centro da praça-forte, importante auxílio à navegação na entrada da barra, desactivado em 1991.

O conjunto encontra-se classificado como Imóvel de Interesse Público, pelo Decreto 44.075, publicado em 5 de Dezembro de 1961.

Forte de Santa Catarina

O Fortim de Palheiros, também referido como Fortim da Praia, Fortim do Centro e Reduto Central da Praia, localiza-se na vila de Buarcos, freguesia de Buarcos, concelho de Figueira da Foz, distrito de Coimbra, em Portugal.

História

A sua construção é geralmente atribuída às forças de D. Miguel, no contexto da Guerra Civil Portuguesa (1828-1834), embora algumas fontes indiquem ser-lhe anterior, do período manuelino.

Em 1909, no governo de Manuel II de Portugal, o fortim foi colocado em hasta pública, tendo sido arrematado, por quinhentos mil e cem reis, por Joaquim Sotto-Mayor.

Os seus restos encontram-se classificados como Imóvel de Interesse Público pelo Decreto nº 45.327, publicado em 25 de outubro de 1963 e pelo Decreto nº 47.508, publicado em 24 de janeiro de 1967. A construção da urbanização do Parque do Palácio Sotto-Mayor aumentou-lhe o estado de degradação.

Características

Em posição dominante sobre a povoação, constituía-se em uma bateria de planta semi-circular, com parapeitos, guarnecida com dez peças de artilharia, cruzando fogos com a Fortaleza de Buarcos e o Forte de Santa Catarina, na defesa da enseada de Buarcos. A sua acção era conjugada com o apoio da infantaria e da cavalaria impedindo eventuais desembarques. Dispunha de uma Casa da Guarda.

Fortim de Palheiros

The National Museum Machado de Castro (Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro) is an art museum in Coimbra, Portugal, named after the renowned Portuguese sculptor Joaquim Machado de Castro. It first opened in 1913 and its latest renovation (2004-2012), which included the addition of a new building, was awarded the Piranesi/Prix de Rome Prize 2014.
Museum's history
The Machado de Castro Museum is one of the most important art museums in Portugal. It is housed in the former Bishop's Palace. This palace was built from the Middle Ages onwards roughly on the site where the Roman forum of Aeminium (Coimbra's Roman name) once stood. The remains of this distant past, the Cryptoporticus, can be visited on the lower floors of the museum.
Collections
The bulk of the museum's collection is made up of items from churches and religious institutions in the area surrounding Coimbra. The collections of sculpture (the 

Machado de Castro National Museum

A Fortaleza de Buarcos, localizava-se na povoação e freguesia de Buarcos, concelho de Figueira da Foz, distrito de Coimbra, em Portugal.

Integrava, juntamente com o Fortim de Palheiros e o Forte de Santa Catarina na Figueira da Foz, o sistema defensivo desse trecho da costa, nomeadamente o antigo porto marítimo da povoação.

História

Acredita-se que a sua construção tenha se iniciado no reinado de João I de Portugal (1385-1433), ou mais própriamente no de Manuel I de Portugal (1495-1521), como defesa contra os ataques de corsários Ingleses e Neerlandeses, bem como de piratas da Barbária, frequentes na região.

Da antiga fortificação subsiste atualmente apenas um pequeno troço das suas muralhas, entre dois baluartes, paralelo à marginal da praia de Buarcos.

Encontra-se classificada como Imóvel de Interesse Público, por Decreto publicado em 1961.