Lousã Castle

Category: Military Architecture > Castle

District: Coimbra > Lousã > Lousã > Cruz de Ferro

Location

- Located in the parish of Lousã e Vilarinho, about 2 km from the town of Lousã, in the district of Coimbra.

- Found in the Serra da Lousã, on the right bank of the Arouce River.

Historical Significance

- Built in the second half of the 11th century.

- Also known as Arouce Castle.

- Classified as a National Monument since June 23, 1910.

Architectural Features

- Small castle with an irregular hexagonal plan.

- Walls in shale masonry, reinforced by three turrets.

- Keep with a quadrangular plan and battlements.

- Romanesque and Gothic styles present in the construction.

History

- The first documentary reference to the town of Arouce dates back to 943.

- Occupied and restored by D. Teresa de Leão after the Christian reconquest.

- Received a charter in 1151 and prospered under the reign of D. Afonso II.

- In the 14th century, the Keep was built.

- In 1513, under D. Manuel I, Lousã received the New Charter, and the castle became known as Castelo da Lousã (Lousã Castle).

Conservation

- Conservation interventions since 1925, with significant work between 1942 and 1945.

- Maintained in good condition, surrounded by a forest landscape.

Legend of Arouce Castle

- According to legend, the castle was built by Arunce, a Muslim emir, to protect his daughter Peralta and his treasures.

- The legend says that Arunce travelled to North Africa in search of reinforcements against the Christians.

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