Castle of Mourão

Category: Military Architecture > Castle

District: Évora > Mourão > Mourão > Bairro Doutor Baltazar Rebelo de Sousa

Location

, Located in the village of Mourão, in the Alentejo region, Évora district.

, Positioned on the left bank of the Guadiana River, offering views of the plain, Monsaraz Castle to the north, and the border with Spain to the east.

Classification

, Classified as a Property of Public Interest since July 18, 1957.

History

Origins

Little is known about the initial occupation; it was important during the Christian Reconquista.

Middle Ages

, Entrusted to the Order of Hospitallers after the Portuguese conquest.

, First Charter of Foral granted in 1226 by Gonçalo Egas to promote settlement.

, New charters granted in 1254 by D. Afonso III and in 1296 by D. Dinis, with reforms to the castle.

, Supported the Master of Avis in the crisis of 1383-1385.

Renaissance

, Featured in the "Book of Fortresses" by Duarte de Armas (c. 1509).

, Reforms under D. Manuel I with architects Diogo and Francisco de Arruda.

, Construction of the main church in the 16th century.

Philippine Period and Restoration

, Supported Philip II of Spain in the succession crisis of 1580.

, During the Restoration of independence, Pedro de Mendonça Furtado raised the banner of D. João IV.

, Reforms in the 17th century by Nicolau de Langres, with bulwarks and ravelins, of which few vestiges remain.

Characteristics

Walls

, Medieval wall made of schist, marble, and granite.

, Six quadrangular towers.

, Doors flanked by turrets, some with ogival Gothic arches.

Keep

, In Gothic style, with a door to the parade ground.

Interior

, Vestiges of the Guard House and the old Town Hall.

17th Century Reforms

, Inclusion of bulwarks and ravelins.

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

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