Category: Military Architecture > Castle
District: Castelo Branco > Belmonte > Belmonte
The castle stands on a hill about 1 km from Belmonte's historic center, offering views over the village and the surrounding countryside. Although the Zêzere River flows further down, a few kilometers to the southwest, the gentle agricultural reliefs and the rural surroundings create a prominent backdrop for the landscape.
Narrow cobbled streets connect the monument to the old houses, reinforcing the feeling of integration between the fortification and Belmonte's medieval urban fabric.
Initially held by the Bishopric of Coimbra in the 12th century, Belmonte Castle had its primitive structure expanded during the reign of D. Dinis, with the construction of the keep and granite stone walls. In 1398, it passed to the Cabral family, who lived there and prepared part of the overseas expeditions, including those of Pedro Álvares Cabral.
Its classification as a National Monument in 1927 safeguards the various intervention phases, from the medieval occupation to the 16th-century adaptations for a stately residence.
The irregular oval layout of the walls encloses an enclosure where the Keep stands out, with three floors and Romanesque-style battlements. On the south wall, the perfect arch portal displays the armillary sphere and the Cabral coat of arms, signs of the Manueline period that superimposed the original structures.
Inside the castle, vestiges of the 16th-century Palace are observed, with trilobed windows and corbeled balconies, contrasting with the defensive arrowslits. The combination of styles (Romanesque, Gothic, and Mannerist) reveals the functional evolution of the space, from a military stronghold to a stately residence and, today, a venue for cultural events.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelo_de_Belmonte
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.35925,-7.3483
Coordinates DMS: 40°21'33.3"N 07°20'53.9"W
Weather Belmonte
On-duty Pharmacy Belmonte
