Castle of Belmonte

The Castle of Belmonte (Castelo de Belmonte) is a medieval fortress in the hill town of Belmonte in central Portugal. It was built around the 13th century, and today it is one of the most important landmarks of the area. Its walls tell of soldiers, explorers and the family that produced the man credited with discovering Brazil.

What does the castle look like?

The castle has an irregular oval plan covering roughly 2,265 square metres. A keep, the main defensive tower, rises in the south-west corner and once served as a lookout over the surrounding land. Two gates give access to the interior. Stone walls, narrow passages and a plain, sturdy shape show the character of Portuguese defensive architecture from the days when border country had to be guarded against neighbours.

What is the history of the castle?

The fortress was raised in the 13th century as a defensive stronghold in hilly terrain. Over time its role changed. Fernão Cabral transformed it into a fortified manor, a home that combined features of a noble residence and a fortress. His son, Pedro Álvares Cabral, spent his early years here.

In the 17th century a fire badly damaged the west wing. After that the castle was abandoned and fell into decay for a long time. Later conservation work brought back its appearance, and the site was declared a National Monument and restored.

What did archaeologists find?

Archaeological investigations between 1992 and 1994 uncovered remains of Roman ramparts and artefacts from the Roman occupation. The hill therefore mattered strategically long before the medieval fortress was built, and the castle stands on a site with much older roots.

Why is the castle linked to Pedro Álvares Cabral?

Pedro Álvares Cabral is the best-known native of Belmonte. He was the third son of the castle's captain-general. King Manuel chose him to command the second armada sent to India. After a voyage of 43 days Cabral reached the coast of Brazil, and he entered history as its discoverer. Visiting the castle means standing where the future navigator grew up.

What else is there to see in Belmonte?

The town also has a remarkable Jewish history. The Belmonte Jewish Museum, the first museum of its kind in Portugal, tells the story of a community that settled here around the 15th century. When the Portuguese Inquisition forced Jews to convert or leave, Belmonte became a refuge for a crypto-Jewish community, whose members practised Judaism in secret until 1974. The castle and the museum complement each other, showing two sides of the place: the knightly and the religious.

Frequently asked questions

When was Belmonte Castle built? Around the 13th century.

Who lived here? The Cabral family. Fernão Cabral turned the fortress into a fortified manor, and his son Pedro Álvares Cabral, later the discoverer of Brazil, spent his early years here.

Is the castle a ruin? It was abandoned after a fire in the 17th century, but it was later restored and declared a National Monument.

What did the excavations reveal? Between 1992 and 1994, remains of Roman ramparts and objects from the Roman period were found.

Is there another attraction nearby worth seeing? Yes, the Belmonte Jewish Museum, dedicated to the history of the town's crypto-Jewish community.

Could I confuse it with another castle of the same name? A castle called Belmonte also exists in the Spanish province of Cuenca. The one described here is in Belmonte, Portugal.

Who is it for?

The castle suits lovers of medieval architecture, fans of the history of exploration, and anyone interested in Portugal's Jewish heritage. A visit combines easily with a stroll through the town and a stop at the museum, making a rewarding day in the heart of the country.