Category: Military Architecture > Castle
District: Évora > Reguengos de Monsaraz > Corval
Erected atop the Outeiro do Azinhalinho hill, the complex of ruins dominates the landscape south of the village of Corval, in the municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz. The hill's low altitude offers a slightly elevated position over the Alentejo plains.
Surrounding it are fields of vineyards and olive groves, typical of the region, which enhance the rural and tranquil character of this corner of the Évora district.
The remains at this site, according to official classification, correspond to a manorial castle built during the reign of King Afonso III (1248-1279) and are protected as a Property of Public Interest by Decree No. 41,191 of July 18, 1957. Although the visible structures are scarce and fragmentary, the designation refers to an ancient lordly fortification.
Beyond the medieval period, the site reveals older occupations dating back to the Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. On the ground, ceramic fragments and lithic artifacts can be found, indicators of a prehistoric settlement that predates the fortification attributed to Afonso III by many centuries.
From the top of the hill, the view stretches across the Alentejo plain, offering a wide perception of the territory. The view of the horizon includes the terraced vineyards, patches of cork oak woodland, and, on clear days, the distant silhouette of the Alqueva reservoir.
The surrounding environment invites moments of tranquility, allowing one to appreciate the changing light on the granite and the typical vegetation of this region in southern Portugal.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelo_de_Azinhalinho
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.42920668920519,-7.4476725288663195
Coordinates DMS: 38°25'45.1"N 07°26'51.6"W