Tomar

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Shortened history of the castle :

The castle of Tomar was built by order of the Temple in 1160, during the Reconquista. Inside the fortress is the Convent of the Order of Christ, which consists of all architectural styles practiced in Portugal between the twelfth and eighteenth century.

The castle of Tomar was built on a strategic location on top of a hill near the river Nabão. It has an outer defensive wall and a pentagonal citadel, also fortified with a tower inside. The keep, a central tower to residential and defensive, was introduced by the Templars in Portugal and that of Tomar is among the oldest in the country.

The fortress was part of the defense system created by the Templars to secure the border of the young Christian kingdom against the Moors, which border the middle of the twelfth century, corresponded roughly to the banks of the River Tagus.

According to Christian chroniclers in 1190, the castle of Tomar resisted for six days to the attacks of the Caliph Abu Yusuf Yaqub Almoravid al-Mansur, who had previously taken other Portuguese fortresses in the South the country. This Christian victory is commemorated by the gate of the fortress, nicknamed "the bloody door."

When the Templar Order was dissolved, castles Almourol and Tomar were given to a new order, the order of Our Lord Jesus Christ, founded March 14, 1319.

Opening times and additionnal information :

From June to September : 9am - 6.30pm
From October to May : 9am - 5.30pm

Guimaraes

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Shortened history of the castle:

Guimaraes castle is probably the best known and mythical in Portugal as it represents the birth of the nation. In fact it was here that Afonso Henriques was born and that's also where he planned the wars for the independence of the Portugal province during the 12th century, becoming the first Portuguese king.

The origins of the Guimaraes castle can be traced back to 968, when the Countess of Galicia, D. Mumadona Dias, ordered the construction of a fortification to defend the populations and the existing monastery against the raids of the Norman / Vikings hordes from the coast and the Moors (Arabs) from the south. During the 11th century, Guimaraes had its defensive structure extensively enhanced when Count Henrique assumed the government of the province from King Alfonso VI of Leon.

In 1129, Afonso Henriques proclaimed the independence of Portugal and several battles followed with Spain until the 14th century due to the pretensions of Spain to dominate the Portuguese kingdom.

With the advent of the artillery, Guimaraes castle became outdated and was abandoned for several centuries. It was used as a prison in the 16th, 17th and 18th century. In a total state of ruin, it was recovered during the 1930’s to become the symbol of nationality.

Opening times and additionnal information:

Tuesday to Sunday : 9.30am to 12 and 2pm to 5.30pm
Free entrance

Sao Jorge

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Shortened history of the castle:

All sorts of civilizatons took once place on the Lisboa Hill: indigenous Celtic tribes, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths.

In the context of the Christian Reconquista, the castle and the city of Lisbon were won from the Moors by King Afonso Henriques. The Siege of Lisbon, which took place in 1147 has one of the famous portuguese legends : the knight, Martim Moniz, noticed that one of the doors to the castle was open, and he prevented the Moors from closing the door again by throwing his own body into the breach. He sacrificed his life but, in doing so, allowed Christian soldiers to enter.

At about this time, in the late 14th century, the castle was dedicated to Saint George by João I, who had married the English princess, Philippa of Lancaster. George, the warrior-saint, usually represented fighting a dragon, was popular in both countries.

As the royal palace, the castle was the setting for the reception of the navigator and hero, Vasco da Gama, when he returned after discovering a maritime route to India. King Manuel I received him there, in 1498, with all appropriate honors and celebrations.

The great 1755 Lisbon earthquake severely damaged the castle and contributed to its degradation. Inspired by the horrendous trauma of the earthquake, in 1788, the first geodesic observatory in Portugal was assembled at the top of one of the towers of the castle; it is called the Torre do Observatório.

The castle's period of neglect ended in the 1940s, when an extensive renovation was undertaken. The castle then became a big tourist attraction, known especially for the wonderful views of Lisbon that it offers.

Opening times and additional information:

Almourol

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Shortened history of the castle:

The site has been occupied since the antiquity and it is certain that in 1129, when Portuguese troops conquered the land, the castle already existed and was called Almorolan.

The site was given to the Knights Templar, who built a settlement between the Mondego and the Tagus rivers. At the time, they were responsible for the defence of the capital which was, at that time, Coimbra.

The final construction ended in 1171 and reveals a perfect quadrangular disposal of the spaces. The high walls are protected by nine circular towers, with a jail-tower at the center of the structure.

After the Order of the Knights Templar was eradicated in 1307, and the Portuguese reconquista ended, there was no longer any need for the stronghold, and the Almourol Castle was abandoned and forgotten.

On the 16th of June 1910, by Royal Edit, the castle was classified as a national monument and, a few decades later it was adapted to be an Official Residence of the Portuguese Republic.

Opening times and additional information:

The castle and the tiny fluvial island may be visited without charge. Visitors only pay for an inexpensive boat trip across the river, which is the only way for visitors to reach the castle.