Évora Monte Castle

Category: Military Architecture > Castle

District: Évora > Estremoz > Évora Monte > Bairro Mourique

Location

, Located in the parish of Évora Monte, municipality of Estremoz, district of Évora, Alentejo, Portugal.

, Situated on the top of the Serra de Ossa, offering a panoramic view to the Castle of Estremoz.

Classification

, Declared a National Monument on June 23, 1910.

History

, Prehistory: It has evidence of human occupation since prehistory.

, Christian Reconquest: Conquered from the Moors in 1160 by Geraldo sem Pavor (Gerald the Fearless).

, 13th Century: Fortifications restored by D. Afonso III: first charter granted in 1248, renewed in 1271.

, 14th Century: D. Dinis ordered the fortification of the village in 1306.

, Dynasty of Avis: Passed to D. Nuno Álvares Pereira and then to the House of Braganza.

, 16th Century: D. Manuel granted a new charter in 1516: reconstruction in the Italian Renaissance style after the 1531 earthquake.

Architecture

, Style: Combines Gothic and Renaissance elements of Italian inspiration.

, Structure: Quadrangular plan with four truncated conical towers at the corners.

, Interior: Three vaulted floors with ashlar pillars: Manueline ornaments on the columns of the ground floor.

, Terrace: Wide battlements used as an artillery firing platform.

Historical Events

, Convention of Évora Monte: Signed on May 26, 1834, ending the Liberal Wars.

, Extinction of the Municipality: The municipality was extinguished on October 24, 1855, being divided between neighboring municipalities.

Restorations

, First interventions in the 1930s and continued in the 1940s.

, New restoration campaigns between 1971 and 1987.

Current Administration

, Since 2021, the castle has been under the responsibility of the Estremoz City Council.

Curiosities

- The turrets have a wider base than the top, a typical characteristic of the Manueline style.

- The sections of the walls are adorned with knots carved in stone.

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

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