Castle of Almourol
Encyclopedia
The Almourol Castle is situated in the small Almourol island, a rocky island, in the middle of the Tagus river (rio Tejo
), in Praia do Ribatejo, a parish in Vila Nova da Barquinha
, Central Portugal
. The castle was a Knights Templar
stronghold used during the Reconquista
.
n redoubt and was populated from Roman
times until the late Middle Ages
. It is certain that in 1129, when Portuguese troops conquered the land, the castle already existed and was called Almorolan.
, who built a settlement between the Mondego and the Tagus rivers. At the time, they were responsible for the defence of the capital, then Coimbra
. The castle has been rebuilt, but it is assumed the architectural characteristics remain largely the same today.
Through an epigraph, placed on the main gate, we know that the reconstruction ended in 1171, two years after the building of the Castle of Tomar
. The two castles have several characteristics in common, both built in the same style of military Templar architecture. Both opted for a quadrangular disposal of the spaces. The high walls are protected by nine circular towers, with a jail-tower at the center of the structure.
These last characteristics constitute two of the innovative elements which the Knights Templar brought to military architecture in Portugal. The jail, which appeared first in the 11th century in Tomar
, the main Templar defensive redoubt in Portugal, is unusual in pre-Romanic castles. The jail tower of the castle of Almourol had three levels and was significantly modified over time, while it still retains important features. The design of walls with equally placed towers along the walls, was brought to the western Iberian peninsula
by the knights.
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. In the 19th century the castle was popularized as an example of chivalric
and romantic ideals of the Middle Ages. Many of the original structures were destroyed in a failed attempt to recreate the grand medieval monument, without remaining true to its heritage.
It is important to note that most of these renovations which had started in the 19th century, were not respectful of the castle's original design, they were instead influenced by the 19th century romantic ideals and its conception of life in the Middle Ages, which lead to many of the castles primitive structures being sacrificed and several decorative elements added.
Nowadays the castle is the property of the Portuguese Army
and is currently located inside a designated military area.
(in the parish Praia do Ribatejo). The castle (a national monument) 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.
Towns nearby: Barquinha, Constança.
Closest Cities:
Entroncamento, Abrantes
, Tomar
, Torres Novas
, Fátima
, Ourém
, Ponte de Sor, Portalegre.
The island and castle may be visible from the rail line between Entroncamento
and Abrantes
; there is a small train station (line of Beira Baixa and line of Leste
, or by car. To visit the isle and castle take a boat from the Tagus bank.
The castle is a National Monument.
Tejo
Tejo can be:*The Tagus, a river on the Iberian Peninsula.*Tejo , a sport and national pastime of Colombia.*The Tutmonda Esperantista Junulara Organizo * Tejo, Ethiopia...
), in Praia do Ribatejo, a parish in Vila Nova da Barquinha
Vila Nova da Barquinha
Vila Nova da Barquinha is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 49.6 km² and a total population of 7,878 inhabitants. It is composed of 5 parishes and is located in the district of Santarém....
, Central Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. The castle was a Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
stronghold used during the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
.
The conquest of the castle
The site has been occupied since the antiquity. It is believed it was a primitive LusitaniaLusitania
Lusitania or Hispania Lusitania was an ancient Roman province including approximately all of modern Portugal south of the Douro river and part of modern Spain . It was named after the Lusitani or Lusitanian people...
n redoubt and was populated from Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
times until the late Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. It is certain that in 1129, when Portuguese troops conquered the land, the castle already existed and was called Almorolan.
The castle and the Knights Templar
The site was given to the Knights TemplarKnights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
, who built a settlement between the Mondego and the Tagus rivers. At the time, they were responsible for the defence of the capital, then Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
. The castle has been rebuilt, but it is assumed the architectural characteristics remain largely the same today.
Through an epigraph, placed on the main gate, we know that the reconstruction ended in 1171, two years after the building of the Castle of Tomar
Tomar
Tomar Municipality has a total area of 351.0 km² and a total population of 43,007 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 16 parishes, and is located in Santarém District...
. The two castles have several characteristics in common, both built in the same style of military Templar architecture. Both opted for a quadrangular disposal of the spaces. The high walls are protected by nine circular towers, with a jail-tower at the center of the structure.
These last characteristics constitute two of the innovative elements which the Knights Templar brought to military architecture in Portugal. The jail, which appeared first in the 11th century in Tomar
Tomar
Tomar Municipality has a total area of 351.0 km² and a total population of 43,007 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 16 parishes, and is located in Santarém District...
, the main Templar defensive redoubt in Portugal, is unusual in pre-Romanic castles. The jail tower of the castle of Almourol had three levels and was significantly modified over time, while it still retains important features. The design of walls with equally placed towers along the walls, was brought to the western Iberian peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
by the knights.
The abandonment and the castle's renaissance
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
ended, there was no longer any need for the stronghold, and the Almourol Castle was abandoned and forgotten. In the 19th century the castle was popularized as an example of chivalric
Chivalry
Chivalry is a term related to the medieval institution of knighthood which has an aristocratic military origin of individual training and service to others. Chivalry was also the term used to refer to a group of mounted men-at-arms as well as to martial valour...
and romantic ideals of the Middle Ages. Many of the original structures were destroyed in a failed attempt to recreate the grand medieval monument, without remaining true to its heritage.
The castle in the 20th century
On the 16th of June 1910, by Royal Edict, 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. Additional renovations took place during the 1940s and 1950s and some important events of the dictatorship period were held within its walls.It is important to note that most of these renovations which had started in the 19th century, were not respectful of the castle's original design, they were instead influenced by the 19th century romantic ideals and its conception of life in the Middle Ages, which lead to many of the castles primitive structures being sacrificed and several decorative elements added.
Nowadays the castle is the property of the Portuguese Army
Portuguese Army
The Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
and is currently located inside a designated military area.
Location of the castle
The castle is located in Central Portugal, in Medio Tejo subregion (ancient Ribatejo province) in the Santarém district, more specifically in the municipality of Vila Nova da BarquinhaVila Nova da Barquinha
Vila Nova da Barquinha is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 49.6 km² and a total population of 7,878 inhabitants. It is composed of 5 parishes and is located in the district of Santarém....
(in the parish Praia do Ribatejo). The castle (a national monument) 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.
Towns nearby: Barquinha, Constança.
Closest Cities:
Entroncamento, Abrantes
Abrantes
Abrantes is a municipality in Portugal, with a population of 41,560 inhabitants, located on the southern margin of the Tagus River.-History:...
, Tomar
Tomar
Tomar Municipality has a total area of 351.0 km² and a total population of 43,007 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 16 parishes, and is located in Santarém District...
, Torres Novas
Torres Novas
Torres Novas is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 270.0 km² and a total population of 37,155 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 17 parishes, and is located in the district of Santarém. The city of Torres Novas has about 15,000 inhabitants. This city has a castle...
, Fátima
Fatima
-People:* Fatima , a female given name of Arabic origin* Fatima bint Muhammad, daughter of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad* Fatima Jinnah, the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah...
, Ourém
Ourém
Ourém is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 416.6 km² and a total population of 49,269 inhabitants. The city itself has a population of about 12,000.The municipality is composed of 18 parishes, and is located in the district of Santarém...
, Ponte de Sor, Portalegre.
The island and castle may be visible from the rail line between Entroncamento
Entroncamento
Entroncamento is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 13.8 km² and a total population of 21,751 inhabitantsThe municipality is composed of 2 civil parishes, contains an important railway junction, and is located in Santarém District....
and Abrantes
Abrantes
Abrantes is a municipality in Portugal, with a population of 41,560 inhabitants, located on the southern margin of the Tagus River.-History:...
; there is a small train station (line of Beira Baixa and line of Leste
Leste
-Description:It is similar to the Leveche. It blows from an easterly direction in autumn,winter and spring, rarely in summer, and is of intense dryness,sometimes reducing the relative humidity at Funchal to below20%...
, or by car. To visit the isle and castle take a boat from the Tagus bank.
The castle is a National Monument.
See also
- List of castles in Portugal
- Castles in PortugalCastles in PortugalCastles in Portugal were crucial components of the military across history. The Portuguese learned the art of fortification construction from the Romans and the Moors. The Romans, who ruled and colonized the territory of current-day Portugal for more than 4 centuries, built forts with high walls...
- Monuments of PortugalMonuments of PortugalThe Monuments of Portugal were constructed throughout the Portuguese territory, and date back to the period of pre-historic settlement of occupation. Subsequently, the region that is today Portugal has been colonized by many civilizations, which have left marks in the territory, constructing...
- History of PortugalHistory of PortugalThe history of Portugal, a European and an Atlantic nation, dates back to the Early Middle Ages. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it ascended to the status of a world power during Europe's "Age of Discovery" as it built up a vast empire including possessions in South America, Africa, Asia and...
- Order of ChristOrder of ChristOrder of Christ may refer to:* Order of Christ – former Knights Templar Order awarded initially by the kings of Portugal, now by the Portuguese state...
- CentroCentrOCentrO is part of a large commercial development in Oberhausen, Germany, called the "Neue Mitte" or "new center". A large steel production plant used to occupy the site until the late 1980s. Besides the CentrO shopping mall the area today houses attractions such as a children's theme park and a...
- Médio TejoMédio TejoMédio Tejo is a NUTS3 subregion of the Centro Region, in Portugal. Médio Tejo is also one of Portugal urban communities . The capital city and its most important city is Tomar.-Municipalities:...
- PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
- Islands in Portugal
- Rivers in Portugal
- Tajus
External links
- Official site of the Castle of Almourol (in Portuguese)
- ALMOUROL CASTLE PHOTOS