Castle of Alfaiates

Parish of Alfaiates

Background

The transfer of the lands of Riba-Côa to Portuguese possession, formally consummated in the Treaty of Alcanices of 1297, would have led to a renovation of the castle.

Local tradition still attributes its foundation to D. Dinis, but the truth is that we know nothing about this possible structure either. It is highly likely that the works sponsored at the time were aimed at renovating the old Leonese castle, providing it with an effective system of walls and, who knows, a different configuration for the probable keep. In any case, it would have been a one-off campaign, not very costly and relatively modest, since, two centuries later, the fortress was the subject of a radical reformulation.

The medieval castle

The first fortification of the town dates back to the time of the Christian À época da Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, when the region was taken by the forces of the Kingdom of León, at the end of the 12th century or beginning of the 13th century. Tradition records that, during this period, it was known as Castillo de la Luna. Although no material remains of this structure have come down to us, it is believed that it stood on the elevated area in the center of the current village, next to the Church of Misericórdia, as indicated in the 17th century by its mayor, Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas. It would consist of a tower defended by a fence in proto-Romanesque style, intended for surveillance and refuge of the residents.

Part of the territory of Ribacôa, disputed with Leon by D. Dinis (1279-1325), its definitive possession for Portugal was assured by the Treaty of Alcanices (1297). From then on, the sovereign sought to consolidate its borders, having the Alfaiates Castle, the Almeida Castle, the Good Castle, the Melhor Castle, the Mendo Castle, the Rodrigo Castle, the Pinhel Castle, the Sabugal Castle and the Vilar Maior Castle rebuilt.

Although tradition attributes the construction of the castle to this sovereign, it would be more correct to assume that this situation led to modernization and reinforcement works on the old Leonese fortification, the defensive fence and even the keep, assumptions that lack documentary proof.

Based on documents from the time, it is a local tradition that during the reign of King Afonso IV (1325-1357) the wedding of his daughter, Princess Maria of Portugal, the "most beautiful Maria" according to À época da Camões , granddaughter of Isabella of Aragon, Queen Saint Isabel, with Alfonso XI of Castile, was celebrated here in 1328.

With the aim of revitalizing this town, King Manuel I granted it several privileges, including the right to a safe haven and a homestead. At the same time, he revamped his defenses, ordering the construction of a fortress (1510). The new project, characteristic of the 16th century, instead of taking into account the old medieval castle, built in a dominant position in the center of the town, favored a flat site, on the edge of the town, providing for a more modern fortification, adapted to the artillery fire of the time. The works progressed slowly, since in 1525 Diogo de Arruda was still inspecting the works.

The last architectural phase of the monument dates from the beginning of the 16th century, when its defenses were reinforced by a new belt of walls, integrating bastions and vertical curtains. This extensive project was never completed due to the Succession Crisis of 1580, followed by the Philippine Dynasty, when the Peninsula experienced a unified government.

At the time of the Portuguese Restoration War of Portugal's independence, its mayor was the knight and poet Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas.

From the 19th century to the present day

Later, during the Peninsular War, Alfaiates would once again have strategic importance, along with other castles in the region, quartering the English and Portuguese troops that fought the retreating Napoleonic troops, under the command of General Massena (April 1811). Later, it was left unguarded and abandoned, with the extinction of the Municipality (1836), and possibly due to the decree that prohibited burials within the precincts of churches in Portugal (1846), the castle's parade grounds began to be used as a cemetery by the town's population until around 1967.

In the 20th century, the town's walls were demolished and much of its stone was used to build houses and the hospital (1912).

In our days, the castle was classified as a National Monument by Decree published on 26 February 1982 (Decree No. 28/82, DR, I Series, No. 47, of 26-02-1982 (see Decree)).

Features

The castle has a quadrangular plan with a quadrangular tower at the vertex facing the town. This inner enclosure has partially ruined walls. A second ring of walls included Turrets at three angles.

The main gate, protruding from the walls, is topped by a sculptural composition in the Manueline style, consisting of a royal crown in the center, flanked by two armillary spheres and two crosses of the Order of Christ.