Castle of Almourol, Medieval castle in Praia do Ribatejo, Portugal
The stone fortress stands on a granite island in the Tagus River, featuring tall circular towers and a three-story central keep at 310 meters elevation.
Following its capture in 1129, the Knights Templar master Gualdim Pais initiated an extensive reconstruction of the fortification beginning in 1171.
The castle formed part of the defensive network along the Tagus River, operating in conjunction with the fortifications of Tomar, Zêzere, and Cardiga.
Visitors access the castle by ferry service from Tancos, operating hourly with different schedules for summer and winter seasons.
The castle contains two notable stone inscriptions: one commemorating Gualdim Pais's reconstruction and another detailing its Christian heritage.
Location: Praia do Ribatejo
Inception: 1171
Architectural style: Romanesque architecture
Elevation above the sea: 310 m
Address: 2260 Praia do Ribatejo, Portugal 2260 Praia do Ribatejo
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 14:30-17:00
Website: http://cm-vnbarquinha.pt:88/pt/conteudos/floatingNav/visitar
GPS coordinates: 39.46194,-8.38383
Latest update: May 27, 2025 07:15
Portugal extends well beyond its main tourist centers. Away from the established routes lie medieval villages like Monsanto, where granite houses wedge themselves between massive boulders, or the fortified hilltop town of Marvão overlooking the Spanish border. Peneda-Gerês National Park spreads across forests, rivers and centuries-old settlements connected by hiking trails. The coastline varies considerably: Cabo Espichel with its cliffs and remote pilgrimage site, the rock formations at Ponta da Piedade near Lagos, the striped wooden houses of Costa Nova facing the ocean. The Azores offer crater lakes such as Lagoa das Sete Cidades, volcanic caves like Gruta das Torres and thermal springs at Caldeira Velha. Madeira presents the coastal village of Paul do Mar and the plateau of Fajã dos Padres, accessible only by cable car. The list includes religious structures such as Alcobaça Monastery, the bone chapel in Évora and Convento dos Capuchos in the forests near Sintra. Historic fortifications like Almourol Castle on a Tagus island or the fortress at Sagres on the continent's southwestern tip complete the picture.
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