Valongo Castle

Category: Military Architecture > Castle

District: Évora > Évora > Balancho

Location

Valongo Castle is situated in a serene Alentejo landscape, in the locality of Balancho, municipality of Évora. Its elevated position, at approximately two hundred meters of altitude, allows it to stand out on the horizon, offering an extensive view over the rural surroundings. Surrounded by a cork and holm oak woodland, as well as vast cultivated fields, it is an isolated spot that invites contemplation.

Near the Valongo Stream, a tributary of the Degebe Stream, its location allows for observation of the vast neighboring estates, with their olive groves and vineyards, creating a typically Alentejo scenery, marked by profound tranquility and unique luminosity.

Marks of Time

The history of Valongo Castle is a reflection of the successive eras that shaped the region. Although its most visible construction dates back to the 14th or 15th centuries, there are indications of an older occupation, with vestiges of Roman, Visigothic, and Muslim presence on the site. It was the Muslims who, in ancient times, initiated the fortification of the area, as attested by some Islamic inscriptions that still exist within its interior.

The structure we observe today resulted from a significant reconstruction carried out in the late 14th or early 15th century, during the Christian Reconquista. This monument, classified as a National Monument since 1910, bears witness to centuries of history, from the first documentary references dating back to 1283, to the most recent interventions for its conservation. Although in ruins, the castle preserves a rich and diverse past, inviting a journey through memory.

Architectural Features

Valongo Castle is distinguished by its quadrangular plan, a robust design reinforced at each of its vertices by four imposing square-section towers. The walls, once traversed by wall-walks, are defended by merlons, giving it a striking silhouette in the landscape.

Inside, the Keep, the central element of the fortification, is divided into three floors, supported by brick ogival vaults. A private staircase, in a self-contained shaft, winds through its interior, connecting the vast halls illuminated by narrow openings. The presence of arrow slits, typical openings in medieval military architecture, underscores its defensive function and the reconstruction phase of the 14th and 15th centuries. It is a construction that remarkably combines the characteristics of a military castle with those of a lordly palace, presenting an unusual architectural solution for the period.

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