Castle of Portalegre

The Castle of Portalegre (Portuguese: Castelo de Portalegre) is a medieval fortress standing in the historic centre of Portalegre, in the Alto Alentejo region of eastern Portugal. It lies in the civil parish of Sé e São Lourenço, within the municipality and district of Portalegre. It occupies the highest point of the old town, at roughly 39.2912° N, 7.4308° W.

How did the Castle of Portalegre come about?

The earliest historical references to Portalegre date from the reign of King Afonso III. In 1259 he granted the settlement its first charter, which raised it to the status of a town (vila) and made it the seat of a new, autonomous municipality. A generation later, his son King Dinis (D. Dinis) turned to strengthening the place. From around 1290 he reinforced the castle and built defensive walls around the town, driven by the growing need to defend the frontier and by the town's increasing importance.

What was the fortress used for?

The castle served chiefly as a defence of the border zone facing Castile. Portalegre sits close to the present-day Spanish frontier, so its fortifications had real strategic value. In the 17th century the towers were altered to house artillery, and the site remained in military service until the 19th century.

What did the town walls look like?

The medieval defensive system consisted of an inner courtyard and a double wall, with twelve towers and seven gates. Three gateways survive today: Alegrete, Crato (near the Sé cathedral) and Devesa. A walk through the old town therefore lets you spot traces of the former fortifications among the later buildings.

What is there to see?

The castle's greatest asset is its position. Standing at the highest point of the historic centre, it overlooks the town and the surrounding countryside of the Upper Alentejo. It is a good stop for anyone interested in the history of the Portuguese-Castilian frontier, defensive architecture and the medieval past of the region. Combine it with the other sights of the old town, including the area around the cathedral, close to which one of the surviving gates stands.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Castle of Portalegre? At the highest point of Portalegre's historic centre, in the Alto Alentejo region, in the parish of Sé e São Lourenço.

Who expanded the castle, and when? King Dinis reinforced the castle and built the town walls around 1290. The town had received its charter earlier, in 1259, from his father Afonso III.

How many towers and gates did the walls have? Twelve towers and seven gates. The Alegrete, Crato and Devesa gateways remain.

Was the castle used militarily after the Middle Ages? Yes. In the 17th century the towers were adapted for artillery, and the site stayed in military service into the 19th century.

Why was the castle built here? Portalegre lay in the frontier zone facing Castile, and the high ground in the town centre offered a strong defensive position with wide views.