Church of Our Lady of the Castle

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Beja > Aljustrel > Aljustrel > Castelo

Location

The Church of Our Lady of the Castle rises majestically atop Castle Hill, in Aljustrel, at an altitude of 247 meters. Its privileged position offers an unobstructed view of the village and the vast surrounding Alentejo landscape, making it a remarkable observation point.

Access to the sanctuary is via an imposing staircase, divided into landings, which starts from Rua de Nossa Senhora do Castelo. At the top of the ascent, an arch topped with a small bell tower welcomes visitors, an element that once served to call the population to worship and warn of dangers. This complex, which includes the remains of the old castle, is classified as a Property of Public Interest.

Historical and Spiritual Legacy

This sanctuary has a history dating back to very ancient times, with records from 1510 attesting to its great antiquity, though the date of its original construction is unknown. It is, however, frequently associated with the figure of D. Paio Peres Correia, a historical figure of the Reconquista.

Throughout the centuries, the church established itself as a center of pilgrimage and profound Marian devotion. Its interior houses numerous ex-votos, photographs, jewelry, and wax figures, tangible testimonies of faith and miracles attributed to Our Lady of the Castle, whom the population of Aljustrel deeply venerates. Annually, faith and tradition come alive in the festivities in honor of the Patroness, culminating in a procession that carries the venerable image from the Mother Church to the sanctuary, parading through the village streets, which are adorned with traditional old bedspreads hung from windows.

Art and Architecture

The sanctuary's architecture reveals traces of the Baroque style, although the building has undergone several alterations over time, particularly after the 1755 earthquake. The church features a longitudinal plan, comprising a single nave, chancel, sacristy, and an old house intended for pilgrims.

Inside, the single nave captivates the eye with its walls adorned with magnificent 17th-century polychrome tiles. These panels, featuring corn cob motifs, recreate the aesthetic of a tapestry and stand out for their impeccable state of preservation and meticulous placement. The recessed chancel houses a Baroque-influenced altar and a main altarpiece in white and gilded carving, with Rococo-style ornamented niches, where the mannequin image of Our Lady of the Castle resides. Also notable is the rib-vaulted ceiling in the original nave, one of the rare structures that may have resisted the vicissitudes and destructions over the centuries.

The Rock of Legend

A central and mysterious element of the church is a rock visible next to the chancel, believed to be the site of the Virgin Mary's apparition after the Christian conquest. This rock is enveloped in legends that enrich the mystique of the place.

One of these legends tells that, during the initial construction of the hermitage, the temple walls mysteriously crumbled every night as soon as the workers left the site. Only when it was decided to build the hermitage precisely on this rock could the work be completed, remaining unwavering ever since. Another popular narrative claims that, by pressing one's ear against this rock, one can hear the sound of the sea in the distance. And, if this rock is ever removed from its place, the waters will invade the village, an ancestral warning of the profound connection of the place to its beliefs and history.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt