Castle of Montalvão

Parish of Montalvão

Montalvão
District Portalegre
Council Nisa
Parish Montalvão
Area 123,87 km²
Inhabitants 442 (2021)
Density 3,6 hab./km²
Gentilic Nisense
Construction ( )
Reign ( )
Style ( )
Conservation Ruins

Montalvão was an important town in Alto Alentejo in the early days of the monarchy Portuguese. The need to protect this sector of the border, combined with the lack of effectiveness population presence, determined that the location would be established as the headquarters of a territory vital to the survival of the Christian order in the region. It is no wonder, therefore, that it was Commandery of the Order of Christ, an institution that would have been the origin of the castle that generically reached us. Its construction has been pointed out in the reign of Denis of Portugal, but the monument still needs a broader archaeological study that would allow conclusions to be drawn about the phases of occupation it went through.

The low medieval fortress would not have been a large-scale work, since, at the beginning of the 16th century, Duarte d'Armas designed it as having only one wall, without any attached tower, with access to the intra-wall space being via a single door. That entrance was rebuilt a century later, as it was certainly in great ruin, acquiring then the classicizing appearance, of a straight lintel between pilasters that support a architrave, which it still displays today, and which contrasts with the small and irregular apparatus with which it the fence that defines the castle was built.

Background

Brasão de Nisa

À época da Reconquista cristã da Península Ibérica integrava a chamada Linha do Tejo.


The medieval castleseta_baixoseta_cima

Foto 1 castelo

In ruins, aiming to protect the border line with Castile, this castle was rebuilt in reign of Denis of Portugal (1279-1325), when he belonged to the Order of Christ.

It is depicted, under the reign of D.Manuel (1495-1521), by Duarte de Armas (Book of Fortresses, c. 1509) like a wall, without towers, in which a door was opened. This sovereign granted it a Charter in 1512.

From the 17th century to the present dayseta_baixoseta_cima

Foto 3 castelo

Later, in the 17th century, its gate was rebuilt.

Remains of the foundations of the walls, towers and cistern have survived to this day. The square of weapons, abandoned, served as shelter for the population's cattle. In what remains of the door of the old castle, a modern water tank stands, which changes the character of the complex, currently In the Process of Classification.

Architectureseta_cima

The castle has an approximately oval plan.

In the castle grounds there is a tomb arch in stonework, with a rectangular cushion decorated with relief plant elements on the front, superimposed by the cross of the Order of Christ, and, on one of the lower sides, traces of the family coat of arms.

Events of the time

1275 - The Venetian Marco Polo arrives in Beijing, China.

1278 - D. Afonso III hands over the government of the kingdom to D. Denis.

1279 - D. Dinis becomes king of Portugal.

 - The first references to the Azores archipelago originate from sea voyages made by Europeans in the 14th century, namely from Portugal during the reigns of D. Dinis (1279-1325) and his successor, Afonso IV.

1281 - Beginning of the armed struggle between D. Dinis and the infante D. Afonso, his brother.

1290 - In Portugal, D. Dinis granted a Charter to Ourique.

 - Edward I expelled the Jews from England.

 - The Portuguese language has become the official language of Portuguese state