Alfaiates Castle

Alfaiates Castle, locally known as Castelo de Alfaiates, lies in the village of the same name in the Beiras e Serra da Estrela region in Portugal.

Some sources suggest that the current village site, located on a hill on the east bank of the Cõa River, dates back to a prehistoric hill fort, which was later occupied by the Romans. In the late 12th or early 13th century, during the Reconquista, the region was captured by the Kingdom of León. A Christian fortification was then erected, probably a watchtower, called Castillo de la Luna.

In 1297, after the Treaty of Alcanices, the region became a definitive Portuguese possession. King Denis of Portugal then had the castle rebuilt, along with other border castles in the region, including Almeida, Castelo Bom, Castelo Melhor, Castelo Mendo, Castelo Rodrigo, Pinhel, Sabugal, and Vilar Maior.

During the 14th century, this borderland was depopulated by plague and war. At the end of that century, King Manuel I of Portugal allowed criminals from other regions to settle here under the crown's protection to encourage resettlement. In 1510, Manuel also ordered the construction of a new fortification. The medieval castle, located in the center of the village, was abandoned, and Alfaiates Castle was built on the outskirts of the settlement. Construction progressed slowly, as it still wasn't finished in 1525.

The castle was reinforced with a circuit of outer walls in the 17th century, during the Portuguese Restoration War.

Alfaiates Castle retained military importance into the early 19th century. In 1811, during the Peninsular War, the castle again served a defensive role against Napoleonic troops. Afterward, it lost its strategic importance and quickly fell into ruin. From 1836 onward, it was used as the village graveyard.

The castle has a square layout with a square keep and a rectangular tower at opposite corners. The lower outer walls closely follow the shape of the inner castle, with 3 round corner towers.

Today, Alfaiates Castle is freely accessible. A beautiful castle ruin with a rather unusual layout.

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