Castle of Elvas
★★★★☆
Attribution: By Nmmacedo - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16699292
The Castle of Elvas is a medieval military fortification, part of a first line of defense in the Portuguese Alentejo, in conjunction with the military forts of Ouguela, Campo Maior, Olivenca and Juromenha.
Between the 8th and 12th century Muslim forces occupied Elvas, resulting in the construction of the fortress. In 1230, after numerous attempts to capture the fortress, the castle and surrounding territory was abandoned by Muslim forces, who had received word that Alfonso IX had reached and was threatening Merida.
The castle is found in an isolated urban context, on an elevated zone known as the Costa da Vila Fria, with many of the towers and walls extending over the landscape.
Between the 8th and 12th century Muslim forces occupied Elvas, resulting in the construction of the fortress. In 1230, after numerous attempts to capture the fortress, the castle and surrounding territory was abandoned by Muslim forces, who had received word that Alfonso IX had reached and was threatening Merida.
The castle is found in an isolated urban context, on an elevated zone known as the Costa da Vila Fria, with many of the towers and walls extending over the landscape.
Leave a comment
Latest Castle Stories
Medieval Dungeons: Myth vs Reality
Separate myth from reality as we explore what medieval dungeons really were — how prisoners were held, punished, and remembered.
Why Heidelberg Castle Was Never Rebuilt — and Left a Ruin
How war, politics, and Romanticism turned a once-great palace into a preserved ruin.
Life Inside a Medieval Castle — Power, Luxury and Survival
A look at daily life inside medieval castles, from noble privilege to the harsh realities of survival.