Monforte Castle

Category: Military Architecture > Castle

District: Portalegre > Monforte > Monforte > Centro Histórico

Location

The Castle of Monforte stands imposingly in the heart of the town of the same name, in Alto Alentejo. Its elevated position offers expansive views over the surrounding landscape, characteristic of this region. It is integrated into the historical area of the village, marking its silhouette on the horizon and serving as a visual landmark.

Despite being in the historic center, the castle enjoys a somewhat isolated environment, atop a hillock, allowing visitors to appreciate the tranquility and the vastness of the Alentejo fields. It is an inviting place for those seeking a different perspective on Monforte's urban and rural areas.

Historical Memories

The history of Monforte Castle is profound, with its origins dating back to prehistoric times, perhaps an ancient hillfort. The Roman presence in the Iberian Peninsula also left its mark, transforming the site into a small fortified nucleus. Subsequently, Visigoths and Muslims occupied this strategic point, attesting to its importance throughout the centuries.

With the Christian Reconquest, the castle played a vital role in defending the frontier, especially against incursions from Castile. It was in the 13th century that D. Afonso III granted a charter to the village, boosting its development and the recovery of its defenses. Its most significant reconstruction, including the robust keep and new walls, began in the 14th century by order of D. Dinis, consolidating it as a bastion in the region's defensive line. The castle also witnessed decisive moments in Portuguese history, such as the Crisis of 1383-1385 and the Restoration Wars, before being severely damaged in the early 19th century, with the Spanish invasion of 1801 leaving much of its structure in ruins.

Architectural Features

Built predominantly from granite ashlar, abundant in the region, Monforte Castle has an irregular plan, adapted to the topography of the terrain. Although mainly remnants survive today, it is possible to observe the foundations of the old walls and, more prominently, the Keep.

The Keep, quadrangular in plan, is divided into three floors and housed a vaulted cistern on the lower floor, essential for resistance in case of siege. Over the centuries, the castle was adapted to new military techniques, with the addition of bastions in the 17th century to resist artillery. Despite its current ruined condition, which lends a unique charm to the place, one can still glimpse the grandeur of the medieval fortification and imagine the life that unfolded there.

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