Portel Castle

Category: Military Architecture > Castle

District: Évora > Portel > Portel > Bairro Dias de Carvalho

Location

, Situated in the town of Portel, in the district of Évora, Alentejo.

, Located in a dominant position over the medieval town.

Nearby Attractions

, Igreja Matriz da Vera Cruz (Vera Cruz Main Church).

, Grutas de Algar (Algar Caves).

, Barragem do Alqueva (Alqueva Dam).

Classification

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

History

, Obscure beginnings, with reference to a Muslim presence in the time of King Afonso III.

, Construction began in 1261, after the donation of land to João de Aboim by King Afonso III.

, The castle passed to the Crown in 1289, during the reign of King Dinis.

, Involved in the crisis of 1383-1385, with emphasis on the conquest by D. Nuno Álvares Pereira (Saint Nuno of Saint Mary).

, Significant remodeling under King Manuel I in the early 16th century.

Architecture

, Gothic style, with a heptagonal plan reinforced by circular towers.

, Quadrangular keep with approximately 25 meters in height, internally divided into two floors.

, Use of marble in the quoins and Gothic windows.

, Main gate to the north in pointed arch, with another gate to the south (Porta de Beja, Beja Gate) creating an internal road axis.

, Other gates include Porta do Relógio (Clock Gate) and Porta do Outeiro (Outeiro Gate).

, Parade ground with cistern, vestiges of the Chapel of São Vicente (Saint Vincent Chapel) and ruins of the ducal palace.

, Important sections of the barbican preserved to the south, north and west.

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

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