Ansiães Castle

Category: Military Architecture > Castle

District: Bragança > Carrazeda de Ansiães > Lavandeira, Beira Grande e Selores > Alganhafres

Location

The Castle of Ansiães stands in a dominant position on a granite massif, in the locality of Lavandeira, Beira Grande, and Selores, in the municipality of Carrazeda de Ansiães. Set apart from the current village, it is situated on a strategic elevation, offering expansive views over the Douro River valley. Its presence atop the hill provides a unique perspective on the surrounding landscape, characteristic of the Douro region, evoking its defensive importance in bygone eras.

A Millennial History

The site of the Castle of Ansiães boasts a long and rich past, with traces pointing to human occupation since the Chalcolithic period. Over the centuries, various peoples, including Romans and Muslims, have left their mark, with the primitive fortification of the settlement attributed to the latter. In the 11th century, as part of the Kingdom of León, Ansiães received a Royal Charter from King Ferdinand I of León with the aim of repopulating the area. Subsequently, under Portuguese rule, this charter was confirmed by kings such as D. Afonso Henriques, D. Sancho I, D. Afonso II, and D. Manuel I, underscoring the location's continuous relevance. The town and its castle played a crucial strategic role in the defense and formation of the national territory, witnessing millennia of events.

The Castle's Structure

This medieval castle is organized into two distinct platforms, corresponding to the citadel area and the residential area of the ancient town. Its primary defense relies on an oval-shaped wall, reinforced by five quadrangular towers, two of which protected the Porta de São Salvador, the main gate. Inside, the Keep stood out, divided into two floors, and the cistern that supplied the inhabitants. Beyond the inner enclosure, a second outer wall, over six hundred meters long, delimited the urban area, containing three quadrangular towers of which significant stretches still remain. Names such as the Torre dos Lameiros, the Torre do Sol, the Porta de São Francisco, the Porta de São João, and the Porta da Fonte Vedra evoke the memory of the complex architecture of the ensemble.

The Heart of the Ancient Town

The material remains within the walls allow us to glimpse the urban organization of the medieval town, with the foundations of ancient buildings, arches, and lintels still visible. The only building fully preserved within the fortified perimeter is the Church of São Salvador de Ansiães, a notable example of Portuguese Romanesque architecture. Its iconographic program in the tympanum, of the "Pantocrator" type, is one of the most important and distinctive elements of the temple, inviting contemplation of its artistic and historical value. The presence of these remains offers a window into the daily lives of those who once inhabited this fortification, transforming the visit into a true journey through time.

Recognition and Preservation

The Castle of Ansiães is recognized for its historical and architectural importance, having been classified as a National Monument by Decree in 1910. Over the decades, the structure has undergone various consolidation and restoration interventions, with the first major work in the 1960s by the Directorate-General of Buildings and National Monuments. At the beginning of the 21st century, new and significant recovery works were undertaken for the castle and the ancient walled town, aiming to preserve this valuable heritage and make it more accessible to the public, allowing its history to continue to be told.

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