Castle of Aguiar de Sousa

Parish de Aguiar de Sousa

Castle of Aguiar de Sousa
District Porto
Council Paredes
Parish Aguiar de Sousa
Area 22,32 km²
Inhabitants 1 631 (2011)
Density 73,1 hab./km²
Gentilic Paredense
Construction ( )
Reign ( )
Style ( )
Conservation ( )

The current municipality of Paredes is based on the old municipality of Aguiar de Sousa, which dates back to the early days of the Monarchy. The municipality of Aguiar de Sousa emerged from a settlement pact in Vale do Sousa, having been created around the middle of the 12th century. In fact, it appears in the 1258 inquiries ordered by Afonso III of Portugal, as stated in fascicle II, Vol. I, of the Corpus Codicum Latinorum. Here are also mentioned some of the current parishes of the municipality of Paredes, belonging to the then court of Aguiar de Sousa: Estremir, Crestelo, Vilela, Bendoma, Ceti, Gondalães, Veiri and Gandera. Aguiar de Sousa received a charter in 1269, confirmed in 1411 by John I of Portugal and reiterated by Manuel I of Portugal in 1513. Around the same time, Baltar also received the category of municipality. Baltar was elevated to the status of a town, thus gaining enormous rights, comparable only to the largest towns in the kingdom. D. João V, on March 6, 1723, confirmed these privileges.

Since the 16th century, Paredes has become the capital of the municipality of Aguiar de Sousa, thus assuming a prominent position in relation to the town of Aguiar de Sousa. All the importance acquired then would allow the formation of the municipality of Paredes when the administrative division was reorganized by Passos Manuel, in 1836, in which 498 municipalities were extinguished, including those of Baltar, Louredo and Sobrosa, and the Municipality of Paredes was created.

Brasão de Paredes

The medieval castle

Foto 1 castelo

The Castle of Aguiar de Sousa was located in the territory's defensive network, to which the Asturian kings paid particular attention. Its implementation reveals the defensive concerns employed in its construction, as it is difficult to access and surrounded by higher hills that reduce its visibility. It was attacked by Almançor in 995 in the context of the wars of the Christian Reconquista.

This monument is part of the Romanesque Route of the Sousa Valley and belonged to Mem Pires de Aguiar, born in 1100.

It was declared a Property of Public Interest by Decree No. 95/78, DR 210 of 12 September 1978.

Foto 2 castelo

An example of medieval military architecture, it is located on what remains of an old fortified structure, with a tower off-center in relation to the oval-shaped wall. The tower would not have existed in the 12th century, although the construction of keep towers within walled enclosures was normal in the Romanesque period. This important monument headed a Land in the reorganization of the territory in the 11th century and the important Court of Aguiar de Sousa, already in the 13th century. The Court of Aguiar de Sousa, one of the most powerful in Entre-Douro-e-Minho, extended from Porto to the vicinity of Penafiel, including all the parishes of the current municipality of Paredes, with the exception of Recarei, in addition to 42 more parishes in the neighboring municipalities, as attested by the Inquirições of 1220.

Events of the time


953 - Fundação de Guimarães.

962 - Revolt of the Count of Portucale, Gonçalo Mendes, against Sancho I of León.

976 - Almançor, a protégé of Hisham II, begins a military campaign against Christians in the Iberian Peninsula.

985 - The Norwegian Vikings settle in Greenland.

987 - Revolt of the count Gonçalo Mendes who adopts the title of Grand-Duke of Portucal and rebels against Bermuda II and is defeated in battle.

955 - The Moors retake Coimbra and force the Christian army to retreat beyond the Douro River.