Castle of Castelo Branco, Medieval castle in Castelo Branco, Portugal.
Castle of Castelo Branco sits on a granite hilltop with preserved wall sections and a defensive tower standing near the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo. The fortress contains foundations from different periods and provides views across the surrounding landscape.
The Knights Templar built the first defensive walls between 1214 and 1230, connecting strategic locations including Tomar and Almourol in a defensive network. The fortress served as a key position in the region's medieval military system.
The fortress town was built with distinctive architectural features where wider doorways accommodated horses and narrower ones served knights in residential areas. These practical designs reveal how important horses were to daily life in the medieval community.
Visitors can explore the grounds to examine the remaining medieval defensive structures and take in views from the elevated position. The site is walkable and local information boards provide context about the fortification layout.
During King Denis's reign, the fortress had four main gates bearing symbolic names: the Golden Gate, the Gate of Santiago, the Traitors' Gate, and the Pelame Gate. These designations reflected the political and religious importance of the period.
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