{"id":11406,"date":"2023-01-17T09:05:19","date_gmt":"2023-01-17T09:05:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/castle-of-guimaraes-portugal\/"},"modified":"2023-11-20T10:44:22","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T10:44:22","slug":"castle-of-guimaraes-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/castle-of-guimaraes-portugal\/","title":{"rendered":"The Castle of Guimar\u00e3es"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Perched on a rocky promontory a few steps from the city center, the Castle of Guimar\u00e3es (Castelo de Guimar\u00e3es<\/em> in Portuguese) is a must-see for any visitor exploring Northern Portugal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the guide!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\ud83d\udc4d The Captain’s tips \ud83d\udc4d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Want to learn more about Guimar\u00e3es’ history?<\/strong> Captain Ulysses warmly recommends this free tour of the city (in English)<\/a><\/mark> to visit Guimar\u00e3es with a passionate guide. You’re free to choose how much you wish to tip the tour guide at the end of the tour!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to know more about Guimar\u00e3es’ top landmarks & monuments?<\/strong> Be sure to check out the Captain’s Guide to Guimar\u00e3es<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"View<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A short history of the Castle of Guimar\u00e3es <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The history of the Castle of Guimar\u00e3es begins in the 2nd<\/sup> half of the 10th<\/sup> century<\/strong>. The Countess Mumadona Diaz acquired lands located on the present site of Guimar\u00e3es, on which she hastened to order the construction of a monastery. But the region was prey to incessant murderous invasions by Vikings from the North and Moors from the South. The countess therefore built a fortress in which the monks could take refuge in case of enemy incursions: the Castle of Guimar\u00e3es.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A century later, at the end of the 11th<\/sup><\/strong> century, Count Henry of Burgundy received from his father-in-law, the King of Castile, the county of Portucale (the ancestor of Portugal) and made the Castle of Guimar\u00e3es his residence. The castle was then reorganized and enlarged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The son of Count Henry of Burgundy, Afonso Henriques, who was born in the Castle of Guimar\u00e3es, became the first king of Portugal in 1139<\/strong> after rising up against the kingdom of Castile to obtain the independence of his county. He reigned over the country for more than 46 years under the title of Alfonso Ist<\/sup> and made the Castle of Guimar\u00e3es his royal residence, hence its nickname: the “Cradle of Portugal”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between the end of the 13th<\/sup> and the beginning of the 14th<\/sup> century<\/strong>, the castle was completely renovated by King Denis Ist<\/sup>. In the 14th<\/sup> century, the fortress was besieged by Spanish troops twice before they were repelled by Portuguese forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the 14th<\/sup> century<\/strong>, the Castle of Guimar\u00e3es declined and was ultimately forgotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1910, the Castle of Guimar\u00e3es was declared a national monument, and underwent several renovations during the 20th<\/sup> century<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Interior<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Visiting the Castle of Guimar\u00e3es <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Perched on a rocky promontory, the Castle of Guimar\u00e3es blends Romanesque and Gothic influences, a sign of its long history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The castle is a vast fortress surrounded by crenellated ramparts with seven square towers. In the heart of the fortress, the keep hovers 28 meters \/ 90 feet above ground. From the top, you’ll have a beautiful view of the surroundings, including the Palace of the Dukes of Bragan\u00e7a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside, visitors have relatively little to look at, except for a small exhibition on the history of the fortress. Still, the visit is impressive because the Castle of Guimar\u00e3es is well preserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Ramparts
Ramparts & Keep<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"View
View of the Palace of the Dukes of Bragan\u00e7a<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Guimar\u00e3es
Ramparts & crenellated tower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Access<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Castle of Guimar\u00e3es is located a few minutes walk from the city center and a stone’s throw from the Palace of the Dukes of Bragan\u00e7a.<\/a> It is open every day from 10am to 6pm (ticket office closes at 5:30pm).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The entrance ticket is 2 \u20ac, but you can also opt for combined tickets:<\/p>\n\n\n\n