Border Castles

The frontier castles have stood since the birth of the Portuguese nation.

Listen to ancient stories of heroic deeds and glorious battles while discovering the remains of buildings that tell us so much about the country’s origins.

There’s so much to enjoy: from the castles of Alfaiates, Sortelha, Vilar Maior, Sabugal, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Bom, Castelo Rodrigo, Penamacor, Monsanto and Pinhel, to the fortress of Almeida. Most of them are classified as national monuments, going back to the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries and closely linked to the need to defend Portugal’s territory.

Almost since the beginning of its history, Portugal has had a pressing requirement to defend itself from attack by neighbouring Spain. Almeida is an interesting example not to be missed, with its fortress that was transformed into a mighty bastion of the border area.