Castles of Northern Portugal

The castles of Northern Portugal stand as symbols of resistance and centuries-old heritage. These imposing fortresses, strategically built in commanding locations, tell tales of epic battles, forbidden love, and fascinating legends that continue to captivate generations.

Visiting the castles of this region is an immersion into a glorious past, where medieval architecture, local traditions, and intriguing mysteries come together to create a unique and unforgettable experience.

Portuguese castles, symbols of resilience and timelessness, are a source of pride for those who call this land home. Northern Portugal boasts one of the highest concentrations of these majestic fortresses, which served as national defense strongholds and stand today as a valuable legacy of past generations, showcasing a rich diversity of architectural styles.

These "guardians" played a pivotal role in the nation’s foundation, serving as the backdrop for epic battles, heroic reconquests, tales of love and tragedy, and defining moments that shaped Portugal’s sovereignty. Wrapped in mystery and romance, they hold stories of kings and knights, imprisoned princesses, forbidden loves, and legends of giants and ghostly apparitions.

From the Porto Metropolitan Area to Minho, Douro and Trás-os-Montes, these castles are ready to welcome visitors year-round. Some have been transformed into charming accommodations, offering the chance to experience a real-life fairytale, while others host historical reenactments, medieval fairs, musical performances, and firework displays. But all, without exception, are places brimming with history, filled with stories to uncover and experiences to cherish. Embark on a journey through the past.

Commissioned by Countess Mumadona Dias, Guimarães Castle dates back to the 10th century. Originally built to protect the monastery from frequent Norman and Saracen invasions that plagued the Iberian Peninsula, the fortress underwent significant expansions in the late 11th century under Count Henry of Portugal. Further renovations and fortifications were carried out by King Dinis in the late 13th century, with additional contributions from later monarchs over the centuries.

As military tactics evolved, the castle gradually lost its defensive role and fell into abandonment and decay. However, in the 20th century, it was restored and designated a National Monument, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

Perched atop a hill once owned by the Benedictine monks of the Monastery of Castro de Avelãs, Bragança Castle is accessed through the Porta do Sol and Porta da Vila. Its strategic location made it a key defensive stronghold throughout history.

Bragança began to develop as a settlement in the 12th century, receiving its first charter in 1187, granted by King Sancho I. During his reign, the first donations for the village’s fortification were made. Thanks to its topographical and military advantages, the region became of great strategic importance, but it was under King João I that the castle took its present form.

Featuring a trapezoidal enclosure reinforced by seven towers, the castle includes the alcázar, where the Torre da Princesa (Princess Tower) stands, as well as the imposing Torre de Menagem (Keep Tower). Built in Gothic style, the Keep Tower rises 33 meters high and 17 meters wide, with sides aligned to the four cardinal points. Its construction, which took around 40 years, made it an architectural and military landmark.

Over time, the village expanded and evolved, achieving city status in 1464, when King Afonso V granted it at the request of Fernando, 2nd Duke of Bragança. Today, Bragança Castle remains a symbol of history and resilience, standing as a testament to an era that shaped the region’s identity.

The keep of Lamego Castle, standing at around twenty meters high, is distinguished by its quadrangular layout and narrow slit windows on its façades. Some of these slits were modified in the 16th century when D. Francisco Coutinho, the last Count of Marialva, transformed them into windows, possibly to adapt the tower for residential purposes.

The castle features an irregular hexagonal parade ground, enclosed by walls stretching approximately ninety meters in perimeter. A walkway, accessible via a staircase on the northern side, reinforces the fortress’s imposing presence.

Between 1939 and 1940, as part of the centennial celebrations of Portugal’s Foundation and Restoration, the castle underwent major restoration works. During this period, bells and belfries at the top of the tower were removed to restore the battlements, bringing back its original defensive appearance. The old walled village within the castle is accessible through two gateways, inviting visitors to explore this site steeped in history. Today, the tower and Marialva Castle remain living testaments to centuries of adaptation, preservation, and heritage.

The Romanesque Castle of Basto, located in the historic land of Basto, is part of the castle-building movement that shaped European territories between the 10th and 12th centuries. Strategically positioned atop a mountainous hilltop, the fortress features four key defensive elements: the imposing keep, whose top floor and battlements were rebuilt in the 20th century; a quadrangular tower; a single access gate; a cistern.

Archaeological evidence indicates that the fortress was occupied between the 14th and 16th centuries, a period already marked by its decline. During times of peace, the castle mainly served as an administrative and feudal power center. Its definitive abandonment occurred in 1717, when local elites relocated the municipal seat to its present location, leaving behind the small town of Basto.

Today, the memory of the old town remains along the route that once connected it to the Lixa road and the Amarante-Arco de Baúlhe route. This area, now known as Aldeia do Castelo (Castle Village), still preserves traces of its bustling past. The pillory, courthouse, and old apothecary stand as testaments to the vibrant life that once filled its streets, preserving the essence of a place that continues to tell its story.

Paço de Giela is a remarkable example of medieval and early modern private civil architecture, closely linked to the history and formation of the Valdevez region. This emblematic complex reflects the evolution of seigneurial and royal dominance over the area, bearing witness to centuries of transformations and historical memories.

Its construction began with the "house-tower" of Giela, a symbol of protection and power erected in the mid-14th century. Later, between the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the residential area was built, featuring Manueline-style windows and a fortified entrance, completed in 1573. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the residential section underwent various modifications, but by the 19th century, the Paço fell into decline and was abandoned.

Rescued by the local government in 1999, Paço de Giela underwent a rehabilitation project that restored its grandeur, reopening to the public in July 2015. Today, the medieval tower stands out as the main point of interest, housing a dedicated floor to the famous "Recontro/Tournament of Valdevez." This historic event, which took place in 1141, was crucial to Portugal’s independence, marking the confrontation between Afonso Henriques and his cousin, Afonso VII of León and Castile.

Predating the foundation of Portugal, Penedono Castle dates back to at least 960, the earliest known written reference to its existence. However, remnants found at the base of its structure reveal parallels with typical Arab constructions, suggesting an even older origin.

This small castle, resembling a fortified residence, features an irregular hexagonal layout. Perched at an altitude of 930 meters atop a hill of imposing granite outcrops, it has a perimeter of 70 meters, with turrets at the angles equipped with machicolations and a single entrance protected by a pointed arch. Inside, it preserves a cistern, a parapet walkway, and stone benches, indicating the existence of an intermediate floor.

This unique example of Gothic military architecture is closely linked to the legendary figure of Álvaro Gonçalves Coutinho, known as O Magriço, a native of Penedono and immortalized by Luís de Camões in his epic Os Lusíadas. The poem recounts the heroic deeds of this knight, who was part of the famous Twelve of England.

Classified as a National Monument since June 16, 1910, Penedono Castle stands as a remarkable testament to Portuguese medieval history, preserving both its defensive structure and the mythical aura that surrounds it.

The foundation of Lindoso Castle dates back to the early 13th century, during the reign of King Afonso III. It is estimated that its construction took place between 1220 and 1258, as inquiries from the former date do not mention it, while those from 1258 already refer to its existence. Later, King Dinis ordered its restoration and expansion, with the construction of the keep often attributed to him. The monarch, known for his hunting excursions in the Gerês region, used the castle as a residence during these occasions.

In the 17th century, the castle underwent reinforcement works, although it has largely retained its original medieval architecture. Throughout its history, it played a crucial role in conflicts with Castile and later with Spain, serving as a strategic fortress for the defense of the territory.

Today, Lindoso Castle is open to the public and houses a museum that illustrates the evolution of the garrisons that once occupied it and the transformation of the surrounding territory over the centuries.

Built upon the remnants of an ancient Neolithic settlement and later remodeled by the Romans, this medieval castle occupies a strategic position that reflects centuries of history and evolution. The first written records date back to the 13th century, during the reign of King Afonso III. Inscriptions on-site indicate that the reconstruction was completed in 1331 under King Afonso IV, with further repairs carried out in 1580.  

However, the castle’s history was not without setbacks. In the 18th century, following the abolition of the position of *alcaide* (castle warden), parts of the fortress walls were demolished. Stones from its towers and battlements were repurposed for building barns, livestock enclosures, and houses, marking a period of decline.  

Today, the castle preserves some of its most iconic features: four standing towers, the staircase leading to the southwest tower, the wall connecting this tower to the former clock tower facing the village, and the wall linking the fourth tower to the keep, the latter built during King Dinis' reign. In the northwest section, the foundations of the fortifications, restored by the Directorate of National Monuments, can still be observed.  

At the heart of the castle lies a rectangular cistern with an interior staircase descending to a depth of 30 meters, showcasing medieval engineering prowess. On the eastern and southern sides, the foundations and stone corners of the ancient walls that once safeguarded the fortress still endure.

Perched atop a rugged and hard-to-reach hill, Castro Laboreiro Castle stands out for its seamless adaptation to the surrounding terrain. While records suggest the presence of an earlier fortification, the structure preserved today dates back to the 13th century and is generally attributed to King Dinis.

With an approximately oval layout, the castle features remnants of walls rising directly from the rocky cliffs, giving it an imposing appearance that blends harmoniously with the landscape. The main entrance, facing east, is known as the Porta do Sol (Sun Gate), while to the north lies the discreet Porta da Traição, or Porta do Sapo (Traitor’s Gate or Toad Gate), an arch supported by upright stones, showcasing the defensive ingenuity of the time.

According to drawings by Duarte d’Armas around 1505, the castle once had walls reinforced by five square towers surrounding the keep, along with a cistern located further north. This architectural ensemble made the fortress both a strategic stronghold and a symbol of resilience.

Built atop an imposing rocky massif, the Castle of Lanhoso served as a refuge for Countess D. Teresa, mother of D. Afonso Henriques, at several points in the 12th century, most notably during the siege led by her sister, D. Urraca. In 1128, after her defeat at the Battle of São Mamede, D. Teresa returned to the Castle of Lanhoso at her son's command before being exiled to Galicia. This episode underscores the castle’s role as a witness to crucial moments in Portugal’s formation.

Architecturally, the castle underwent significant transformations over time. Its original structure consisted of a defensive wall with a main entrance protected by two defensive towers, along with three square-plan turrets. However, only a few traces of these constructions remain today.

At the end of the 13th century, King D. Dinis undertook a major architectural reform, dismantling the original structure to make way for the imposing keep, which became the castle’s central feature. Since 1996, this tower has housed the Castle of Lanhoso Museum, preserving and sharing the history of this medieval stronghold with future generations.