medieval castles, alentejo, extremadura

The border between Spain and Portugal is one of the most ancient of Europe. It was raised from North to South, integrating the territórios that the Christian kingdoms were conquering from the Muslims.

León, Castile and Portugal fought between if for the lands of the south, to wrest them from the first power of Cordova, and later against the kingdoms gangs, Almoravids and almohades. Some and others, they sowed the new border of nuemerosos castles and of small strengthened populations. In this page some show themselves few examples of those lines strengthened of times of the Reconquest.

Alconchel's locality is between Olivenza, Cheles and Sherry of the Gentlemen, dominated by a rural hill on which one agrees this strength. Of his Arabic origins only a few remains persist. Given his situation, dominating the area on frontier lands, had a high strategic value. It was conquered from the Arabs by king Alfonso I of Portugal, who lost it little later.

After the conquest of Badajoz in 1230, it happened to depend primeramente to the Ordem Templaria and later to that of Alcántara. Since all these lands it suffered the consequences of the fights between Portugal and Spain, and later those who caused the invasions French.

Command to raise in 1418 for Don Gómez Suárez of Figueroa on a previous fortification, was a manor of the Masters of Fair up to happened the 15th century, in which they decided to occupy the fortress of Sugar cane crop. It is of quadrangular plant and in his corners he presents haughty circular buckets. In the center stands out his impressive tower of square plant and a limited court of weapon. The enclosure was surrounded by a barbican, eliminated today largely.

Castl0 of Miraflores (Alconchel)					Castle of Juromenha



Alconchel's locality is between Olivenza, Cheles and Sherry of the Gentlemen, dominated by a rural hill on which one agrees this strength. Of his Arabic origins only a few remains persist. Given his situation, dominating the area on frontier lands, had a high strategic value. It was conquered from the Arabs by king Alfonso I of Portugal, who lost it little later. After the conquest of Badajoz in 1230, it happened to depend primeramente to the Ordem Templaria and later to that of Alcántara. Since all these lands it suffered the consequences of the fights between Portugal and Spain, and later those who caused the invasions French.					One finds this strength in the high of a high promontory, dominating the border of the Guadiana, using as point of control of the traffic between Spain and Portugal. Enclave of Moslem origin, it was conquered in 1167 by Gerardo Sen Pavor, for the king Alfonso Enriquez of Portugal. Since like ocorrió in other many places, the instability of the border motivated that Arabic and Christian, they were dominating the square of alternative form, until after the conquest of Badajoz in 1230 it went on to hands of León's kingdom. After diverse events, in 1241 it joined to the crown lusa during the reign of D. Dionis who gave the orders to raise a formidable strength defended by numerous quadrangular towers. His structure and defensive lines saw bastion deeply altered with the arrival of the defensive system.

Monsaraz					Castle of Luna (Alburquerque)



Since one saw in previous examples, the first incursions of León's kingdoms and Portugal to the south of the Tagus, they take place concerning the year 1169, when the Portuguese king supported by Gerardo sen fear, tries to take Badajoz (tributary of León) without obtaining it. Parallel a series of assaults were effected to the riverside strengths of the Guadiana that were depending on the city. The help of the king of Léon allowed that the Arabs should take again in several occasions, these localities that were raising on the valley of the river. AAlfonso III and Don Dionís, reinforced his defenses that formed a part of a strengthened line that from Marvao and Major Field, was coming up to Murao, Moura and later Serpa. The wars of Restoration and Succession left his impression in the strengthened village, so much in his defensive constructions, since in the population plundered by the English allies in the year 1381.					El Castillo de Luna, que se levanta sobre la población de Alburquerque, es uno de los mejor conservados de España. Pasó por todas las visicitudes bélicas de la historia peninsular. Cayó en manos castellanas, poco antes de la conquista de Badajoz en 1230. Los monarcas, lo cedieron la nobles y valídos, que lo hicieron lugar de residencia y control de los territorios que les fueron otorgados. Entre ellos destacan Alvaro de luna y Beltrán de la Cueva. Sobresale su magnífica Torre del Homenaje, así como su puente levadizo y el enorme arco ojival que la une al resto de la fortaleza. The Castle of Moon, which gets up on the population of Alburquerque, is one of them better preserved of Spain. He happened for all the warlike visicitudes of the peninsular history. It fell down in Castilian hands, little before the conquest of Badajoz in 1230. The monarches, it nobles yielded and valídos, that it did place of residence and control of the territories that were granted them. Between them Alvaro of moon and Beltrán de la Cueva stand out. His magnificent Tower of the Honoring stands out, as well as his drawbridge and the enormous ogival arch that joins her to the rest of the strength.

Castle of Villalba of the Barros					Castle de Portela



Command to raise in 1418 for Don Gómez Suárez of Figueroa on a previous fortification, was a manor of the Masters of Fair up to happened the 15th century, in which they decided to occupy the fortress of Sugar cane crop. It is of quadrangular plant and in his corners he presents haughty circular buckets. In the center stands out his impressive tower of square plant and a limited court of weapon. The enclosure was surrounded by a barbican, eliminated today largely.					It dates back of 1261 reigning D. Alfonso III, though possibly D. Dionís strengthened few ones later his defenses. In 1383, died the king Fernando without inheritors stopped, Portel and his castle added it the supporters of Dona Beatriz of Portugal and Pedro I of Castile. Finished the successor crisis in 1384, the Condestable D. Nuno Alvarez Pereira conquers the strength for Portugal, granting to him the king Juan I his property.
Castle of Nogales					Castle of Mourao



It was ordered Count of Fair constructed in 1458 for the Master of Villalba, don Lorenzo Súarez de Figueroa, first. His plant is quadrangular, flanked in his vertexes along towers or buckets circulate, placing in his center one spectacularly and harmonica Toasts of the Honoring. It was surrounding completely a pit of regular diomensiones, of what only remains the part corresponding to the entry. This one is effected by a simple door of access of Gothic style. Though of limited dimensions they are called the attention his strong walls of stone, in which they are opened saeteras and other defensive elements of diverse epochs. The whole set, towers and walls, is protected by beautiful battlements.					The Portuguese crown it conquered to the Arabs in 1273 on the occasion of the incursions on the territory of The Algarve. In 1343 Afonso IV it ordered to raise on former Moslem remains, his tower of the Homenje, of approximately 20 meters of height. This fortification suffered different modifications to the length of the times, being significant the carried out one during the reign of D. Manuel I, on the occasion of the wars of the Restoration. Of that epoch it dates the mixture of styles and the innovations in military architecture own of the XVIIth and XVIIIth century. It distinguishes from the set his quadrangular towers, the doors and the bastions that defend the strength from the exterior.
Castle of Alandroal					Castle of Burguillos of the Cerro



His construction owes to an order of the king D. Dinis of Portugal the year 1294, finishing four years but late, of the hand of D. Loureço Alfonso Maestre of Avis's order. It exists several inscriptions in the strength that like that they it support, figuring in addition the name of his builder, such " Moor Galvo ". D. Juan II in 1486 grants to the citadel that already was surrounding the castle, the category of Villa. The 18th century his barbican remained ruined and in the interior there were constructed diverse buildings that broke his physiognomy and altered the functions for that the building was constructed. The following years were leaning to his walls numerous constructions. It is of Gothic style, with it plants lightly oval. His Tower of the Honoring distinguishes from other three, placed lightly advanced on the walls or curtains, that his time they are cornados for a beautiful barbican defended by battlements of sharp pyramidal vertexes. The principal entry known as Legal, this Door protected in his flanks for paths crenellated towers. To the tower of the Honoring one finds attached the Church of Our Lady of Grace, of the 13th century. The Door of the Suburb, placed in the western part, defends a tower of defense with saeteras from marble. In the building are observed traces, coincidental of Arabic style by the inscription mentioned to near his builder of Moslem origin. The experts indicate important similarities with the towers almohades of the Spanish city of Seville.					Raised on an impressive hill and dominating the population, the castle was raised by the Gentlemen Templars after the reconquest, already happened the 13th century. Possibly it was constructed on another previous strength, of Moslem origin. It is of Gothic style, though it suffered important and significant modifications to the length of the time. Of square plant, his angles are flanked by four towers, both major ones of polygonal square plant and other two, cylindrical. One has only door with round arch and dobelas of stone granítca. In the high thing, a fort matacán of big dimensions, it protects the access. The Tower of the Honoring in the angle S.E., it is the only inhabitable dependence that remains and his entry to a level slightly higher that the court of weapon is equally defended by another matacán attached to an austere large window. The strength was surrounded by a crenellated wall of which only a small linen remains. It seems to be that the set was isolated by a pit, nowadays stuffed and secretly by rubbles. The building was possessing underground rooms, cisterns and other complementary elements. With a beautiful night lighting, the barbarians of the current importance, took charge destroying this beautiful ornament, which was making shine the castle in many kilometres to the semibreve.

Version portuguesa		Française version
The border between Spain and Portugal is one of the most ancient of Europe. It was raised from North to South, integrating the territórios that the Christian kingdoms were conquering from the Muslims. León, Castile and Portugal fought between if for the lands of the south, to wrest them from the first power of Cordova, and later against the kingdoms gangs, Almoravids and almohades. Some and others, they sowed the new border of nuemerosos castles and of small strengthened populations. In this page some show themselves few examples of those lines strengthened of times of the Reconquest.