Castle of Valongo, Medieval castle in Nossa Senhora de Machede, Portugal
Castelo de Valongo is a castle in the rural area of Nossa Senhora de Machede with a rectangular layout and four corner towers. The walls are topped with square battlements and the keep is divided into three interior levels.
The site was first used by Romans and later occupied by Visigoths and Muslims before being transformed. The current structure dates from the 14th and 15th centuries when the castle was rebuilt.
The castle shows how people in medieval Portugal built their defenses and organized military space. The design reveals the building methods and defensive thinking of that era.
The castle has no modern facilities, so check access arrangements beforehand and bring water. The rural location means arriving prepared with warm clothing and sturdy footwear helps with exploring the site.
Islamic inscriptions are carved into the walls, showing that Muslim builders worked on the structure during its early phases. These markings are a rare record of cultural layers that existed in the region during medieval times.
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