Castle of Belmonte
★★★★☆
Attribution: By Elisa.rolle - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57582379
The first historical information about the area date back to the reign of the first King of Portugal Afonso I (1112-1185), when the landlord of region donated the lands to the Bishop of Coimbra on 6 May 1168.
After the establishment of the Alcanices Treaty in 1297 with the consequent expansion of the frontiers to the west, the Belmonte Castle lost strategic importance, while the town was developing extramural.
In the midst of the war of Restoration for Portuguese's independence, the castle received some modernization efforts but it was damaged by fire in 1694. The building next to the castle was employed as a prison in the 18th century.
After the establishment of the Alcanices Treaty in 1297 with the consequent expansion of the frontiers to the west, the Belmonte Castle lost strategic importance, while the town was developing extramural.
In the midst of the war of Restoration for Portuguese's independence, the castle received some modernization efforts but it was damaged by fire in 1694. The building next to the castle was employed as a prison in the 18th century.
Leave a comment
Latest Castle Stories
Did the Holy Grail Escape the Fortress of Montségur?
Four men escaped Montségur in 1244 carrying a secret treasure. Was it the Holy Grail — or something even more powerful?
How Chenonceau Became a Bridge to Freedom in WWII
When France was divided in 1940, Chenonceau stood right on the border — and its gallery became a hidden path to freedom.
Corvin Castle: The Truth Behind Its Terrifying Stories
Dark legends haunt Corvin Castle — hungry bears, a cursed well, an immured monk, and Vlad the Impaler. But how much of this is true?
Irish Castles: Dark Secrets Hidden for Centuries
Terrifying spaces, underground defenses, and forgotten rooms uncovered inside Ireland’s castles.