Castle of Chaves

Castle of Chaves is a medieval fortress in Santa Maria Maior featuring thick granite walls and a rectangular tower rising three stories high. Pyramid-shaped merlons top the defensive walls at regular intervals around the entire perimeter.

The fortress was built during the reign of King Afonso I and formed part of Teresa of Leon's dowry when she married into the Portuguese royal family in 1093. Throughout the medieval period it served as a key stronghold defending against attacks from Muslim forces in the south.

The castle shows how medieval people organized their defensive space, with rooms and passages that reveal daily life in a fortified settlement. Today visitors can sense how the structure shaped community life and protection during uncertain times.

The site offers several viewpoints throughout the grounds accessed by marked pathways created during recent restoration work. Wear comfortable shoes as reaching the different levels involves climbing stairs and walking on uneven surfaces.

Inside the tower the original granite pillars that once supported wooden beams remain intact, showing how medieval builders constructed structures in this region. This construction method also appears in other northern Portuguese fortifications and offers a rare view into how medieval engineers solved practical building challenges.