Castelo de Penedono, Medieval castle in Penedono e Granja, Portugal
Castelo de Penedono is a medieval castle built on a rocky hilltop in the village of Penedono, in central northern Portugal. It has a heptagonal layout with six towers, and its walls rise directly from the bare rock beneath them.
The castle appears in written records as early as 960, when it was donated to the Monastery of Guimarães. Over the following centuries it changed hands several times and was strengthened as a military post, eventually becoming the residence of the Coutinho family.
The name Penedono comes from the Portuguese word for large rock, which describes the site perfectly. Inside the walls, the spaces were arranged to serve both defense and daily noble life, and this mix is still visible today.
Getting to the castle involves a short but steep climb, and the path can be slippery in wet weather, so solid footwear is a good idea. Once at the top, the view over the surrounding countryside rewards the effort.
Although the castle has seven sides, it has only six towers, meaning one side of the polygon was left without a tower. This was not an oversight but a direct result of the shape of the rock on which the walls were built.
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