Castle of Penacova

Parish of Penacova

The medieval castle

Although there are several testimonies of the passage of the primitive settlers of the Iberian peninsula in the region (Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths and Muslims), none settled permanently in the castle area.

Historiographically, Pinho Leal is the only one to confirm the existence of a castle in the area, locating it on the southern hill, where the main church was later built. Other authors point out that the expression pena generally refers, at the time, to a small castle on a rocky outcrop.

The construction of this castle is attributed to Count Sesnando Davides, governor of the Coimbra district, whose mandate was granted to him by Ferdinand the Great, the sovereign who had conquered Coimbra from the Moors in 1064, bringing the Christian À época da Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula to the region.

The first documentary reference to the town dates back to 1105, in the context of a dispute between the people of Penacova and the monks of the powerful Monastery of Lorvão, requiring the personal intervention of Count D.Henrique for reconciliation, and therefore predating the nationality.

The second reference is made up of the Charter, issued by Sancho I of Portugal (1185-1211) in 1192 (cf. Pinho Leal) or 1193, aiming to increase population and defend the land. This diploma was confirmed by his son and successor, Afonso II of Portugal (1211-1223), in Coimbra, on November 6, 1217, and centuries later by D.Manuel (1495-1521), when he granted it the New Charter (Lisbon, December 31, 1513).

The original parish church of Penacova was the Chapel of Our Lady of Guia, until it was replaced by the new Parish Church in the 16th century, since the old one was small and in a difficult-to-access location. There are no major references to the connection between this chapel or even the 16th-century church and the old medieval castle, which is only mentioned in the town's coat of arms.