Sabugal Castle, Medieval castle in Sabugal, Portugal.
Sabugal Castle is a medieval fortress in Sabugal, in the Beira Interior region of Portugal, built with a five-sided outer wall and four corner towers. At the center of the enclosure rises a tall keep that stands higher than the surrounding walls.
The site had an earlier fortification before King Dinis of Portugal ordered a major rebuilding in the late 13th century, giving it the five-sided layout it has today. The town around it grew partly because of the protection the walls offered along the border with Castile.
The castle appears on the coat of arms of Sabugal and is the image most people associate with the town. Visitors who walk around the base can clearly see how the towers and walls follow the slope of the hill.
The castle sits on a hill at the edge of the old town and can be reached on foot in a few minutes from the main square. Wear sturdy shoes, as some sections of the interior have uneven stone floors and steep staircases.
Sabugal Castle is one of very few Portuguese castles with a true pentagonal layout, which sets it apart from the rectangular or irregular shapes found at most other fortresses in the country. This choice of geometry was intended to eliminate blind spots along the walls, giving defenders a clear line of sight in every direction.
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