Castle of Monção, Medieval castle in Monção, Portugal.
The Castle of Monção is a fortress standing along the northern border of Portugal with preserved wall sections and several towers. The site comprises defensive structures and a gate building from the 17th century that formed part of the town's military system.
King Dinis ordered construction of this defensive fortress in 1306 during conflicts with Castile. The structure was later expanded and reinforced to protect the border town against repeated attacks.
The fortress displays royal emblems and building styles from different periods on its towers and walls. Visitors can observe how successive rulers chose to express their power through architectural choices.
The fortress is freely accessible and can be explored without entrance fees. The best way to understand the layout is to walk from the main walls and explore the various sections of the fortification.
One of the oldest surviving gates dates from the 17th century and reveals construction techniques from a much later building phase. This detail shows how defenders continuously renewed the structure across the centuries.
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