Castle of Atouguia da Baleia

Parish de Atouguia da Baleia

The medieval castle

In the context of the Christian À época da Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, when the Portuguese expedition against Lisbon was organized by Afonso I of Portugal (1112-1185), the crusader fleet under the command of the Frenchmen William and Robert of Corni having landed there, they were granted, in 1158, the domain of Tauria (town and haven) as recognition for the assistance provided in the conquest of that city. Aiming to increase its population and development, the sovereign granted it a charter in 1167, confirmed in 1218 by Afonso II of Portugal (1211-1223) and again in 1510, under the reign of Manuel I of Portugal (1495-1521) (New Charter).

Under the reign of Denis of Portugal (1279-1325) Atouguia gained an annual fair on the day of its patron saint, São Leonardo (November 6), reaching the peak of its maritime movement, where, alongside fishing, shipbuilding activity developed. Given the activity of promoting settlement and defense under this reign, it is believed that the defenses of Atouguia and its castle also underwent reinforcement and improvements, in view of the threat posed to the Portuguese coast by pirates from North Africa.

The Genoese Manuel Pessanha (Emmanuele di Pezagna), hired by Denis of Portugal as admiral to organize the Portuguese navy and combat piracy, maintained his base of operations here. A decree from the same sovereign determined that 30 men from Atouguia, with weapons and baggage, were required to be appointed for six weeks a year to defend this port and the coast of Portugal.

Later, in 1373, during the reign of Fernando I of Portugal (1367-1383), the Cortes Gerais were held here, which proves its importance at the time.

In 1448, Afonso V of Portugal (1438-1481) granted D. Álvaro Gonçalves de Ataíde the title of 1st Count of Atouguia for his good services to the kingdom.

On February 11, 1526, a whale measuring over 20 m in length washed ashore at that point, a true “sea monster” at the height of the Portuguese Discoveries, which earned the town its name: Atouguia da Baleia. One of the bones of the marine mammal was preserved as a memorial in the Church of San Leonardo.

The progressive silting up of the mouth of the São Domingos River and the Atouguia Inlet, which connected the island of Peniche to the mainland, led to the development of the settlement on the latter, which was elevated to a town in 1609 and transformed into a Municipality (1610), at the time of the Philippine Dynasty by D. Filipe II (1598-1621). At the time, the need for defense had also shifted to the so-called “town castle” of Peniche (see Peniche Fortress).

Later, in the 19th century, the Municipality of Atouguia da Baleia was extinguished and incorporated as a Parish into that of Peniche, by D. Maria II (1826-1828; 1834-1853), on 6 November 1836.

Only the remains of a tower and the walls of the old Atouguia Castle have survived to this day. Recent excavations have uncovered sections of the town's medieval wall, which reinforces the need for further archaeological research. The remaining buildings are in the process of being classified as a Property of Public Interest, approved by Order of 23 May 2005 by the Portuguese Ministry of Culture.