Top 6 Castles around Almeida

Almeida stands on the plateau like a table set for history: "Al-Mêda" was the name given to it by the Arabs. Previously, it had been a Lusitanian, Roman, and then Christian fort, conquered in 1190 and definitively Portuguese in 1297. Around the medieval castle grew the town, still marked by the Puerta do Sol. After the Restoration, the town transformed into a veritable war machine: the six-pointed star-shaped fortress, with bastions, ravelins, and underground galleries that served as both shelter and prison. It was the scene of decisive battles, devastated by the explosion of 1810 and contested in the liberal wars, always rising from the ruins.

Castelo Mendo is a historic village with medieval roots, marked by two walls: the oldest, dating from the 12th century, surrounds the old town with its castle and the church of Santa Maria; the second, built by King Dinis in the 14th century, protected the Gothic suburb. The site was a living border between Portugal and León until the Treaty of Alcanices (1297), guarding strategic passages over the Côa River. At the entrance, two Vetón bellows, stone figures in the shape of wild boars, recall even more remote origins. Classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1984, Castelo Mendo today stands as a rare testament to the border region's history and Portuguese medieval splendor.

The Almeida Fort, originally founded as a castle in the 12th century, is one of the best-preserved fortifications in Portugal. It played an important role throughout its history, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. It was heavily damaged during the Siege of Almeida in 1810 but was later rebuilt. The star fort is known for its bastions and deep moats, which were once intended to provide protection against invaders.

Castelo Mendo is surrounded by a fortified wall with six medieval gates. Two wild boar sculptures stand to the left and right of the main entrance. The simple stone houses originally consisted of two floors. The ground floor housed livestock, while the upper floor served as a residential building. The extremely narrow streets made it relatively easy to defend the town, which was repeatedly a battlefield during the wars in which Portugal participated, especially against Spain.

Armed conflicts between borders have been the daily bread in these areas between the two countries. It was built in the 17th century and currently has more than three centuries of history, where its walls are still standing. Currently, it is rehabilitated and is a hotel.

The refurbishment and reconversion project of this 17th-century fortress won, in 2014, the prize for the best restoration of a military building in Spain. What are now luxury rooms on the Spanish-Portuguese border could house 1,500 infantrymen and 200 horses at his creation. The fort had two phases. The first, in the 17th century, when after the uprising in Lisbon that deposed Philip of Habsburg, it was built to serve as a base for an army that would recover Portugal. The Second, in the 18th century, when it was rebuilt to oppose the Portuguese stronghold of Almeida. During the war of independence, it was partially blown up and, for much of the 19th century, the surrounding inhabitants took advantage of it as a quarry until its sale to the private sector gave rise to the current construction.

If you walk around the wall you have a nice view and you get an impression of the defenses.