Braganza Castle

Category: Military Architecture > Castle

District: Bragança > Bragança > Bragança > Sé, Santa Maria e Meixedo

Location and History

Bragança Castle is located in the parish of Sé, Santa Maria and Meixedo, in the historic center of the city of Bragança, Portugal. It is one of the most important and well-preserved Portuguese castles, having been classified as a National Monument in the 20th century.

Strategic Position

Built at an elevated altitude of 700 meters above sea level, the castle offers a privileged view of the Montesinho, Sanábria, Rebordões and Nogueira mountains.

Prehistoric Origins

It is believed that human occupation of the site dates back to the Neolithic period, with the existence of a castro (fortified settlement). Later, it was reformulated by the Romans and occupied by the Muslims during the Christian Reconquista.

Charter of D. Sancho I

In the 12th century, D. Sancho I granted a Charter to the town of Bragança, fortifying it with a first walled enclosure in 1188, making it strategically relevant.

Expansions and Occupations

Throughout the centuries, the castle underwent expansions and occupations, facing conflicts and invasions by Leonese and Castilian forces.

Keep

Of particular note is the Keep, an imposing square structure 34 meters high, which was built during the reign of D. Afonso, 1st Duke of Bragança.

Historical-Military Museum

Since 1936, the Keep has housed a historical-military museum, one of the most visited in Portugal.

Walled Enclosure

The castle is surrounded by an oval-shaped wall with a perimeter of 660 meters, reinforced by fifteen barbicans and has three gates and two posterns.

Legend of the Princess Tower

The castle is surrounded by local legends, including the story of the beautiful orphaned princess who lived there with her uncle and fell in love with a young knight.

Historical Tour

Inside the castle, visitors can appreciate the Domus Municipalis, the Church of Santa Maria and the medieval Pillory, among other historical buildings.

Conservation and Restoration

From the 1930s onwards, extensive conservation and restoration interventions were carried out, allowing the preservation of this important historical heritage.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelo_de_Bragança

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