Castle of the Moors

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View of the walls and towers of the Castle of the Moors.

The Castle of the Moors (Portuguese: Castelo dos Mouros) is located in the town of Sintra, Portugal. The castle is located on a high hill overlooking the town, being one of its most important tourist attractions. It is part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

As implied by its name, the castle is of Moorish origin, but the current building is the result of a romantic renovation carried out in the 19th century. The views from its walls and towers are breathtaking. The town of Sintra with its royal palace, as well as the Pena National Palace are all visible from the Castle of the Moors.

[edit] History

Originally, the Castle of Sintra was built by the Moors, possibly between the 9th and 10th centuries. Arab chronicles depict the Sintra region as being very rich in cultivated fields. Its castle was one of the most important in the surroundings.

In 1147, after the conquest of Lisbon by King Afonso Henriques, the Moorish garrison of the castle surrendered to the Christians without resistance. Afonso Henriques promoted the development of the region by granting a foral (letter of feudal rights) to the inhabitants of Sintra and its castle in 1154. During the reign of King Sancho I the castle was repaired, as well as the romanesque Church of Saint Peter, (Igreja de São Pedro) inside its walls.

The decline of the castle began in the 15th century, when most of the population settled downhill, in today's old quarter of Sintra. In the 16th century the castle lost all military relevance and was abandoned by its last inhabitants, the Sintra Jews.

In 1830, after a long period of ruin, King Ferdinand II started a profound renovation of the castle in the romantic spirit of the time, which saw in the Middle Ages a source of inspiration. The walls and towers were rebuilt, while the Church of Saint Peter was intentionally left in ruins. The castle, blended with the vegetation and topography of the hill, gained a fairy-tale, romantic atmosphere.

View of the Castle amid the vegetation and terrain.

[edit] Characteristics

The Castle of the Moors has two walled segments with a total perimeter of 450 metres. The walls at the north segment took advantage of the natural slope of the hill to prevent enemies from approaching the castle. Although much restored, the towers seem to be in their original locations. The wall segment with the entrance of the castle has the best preserved walls, in which the medieval building technique can be fully appreciated.

Also near the entrance is located the Romanesque Church of Saint Peter, which dates from the 12th-13th centuries. The small church has no roof, but the apse with its barrel vault is still preserved. The capitals of the main portal and chapel of the apse are decorated with Romanesque vegetable motifs. The area around the church was excavated and revealed the existence of a medieval cemetery with many tombs.

Inside the castle precinct there is a cistern built by the Moors, a large underground chamber to hold water, which was essential in case of a siege.