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