Montemor-o-Novo Castle

The ensemble known as Montemor-o-Novo Castle encompasses the castle and the wall surrounding the urban cluster during the Low Middle Ages. We are unsure about its origin: if it dates from the Almohad period (12th century) or was founded after being granted a charter of liberties by King Sancho I in 1203. Construction works were done during the reign of King Dinis (1279-1325), such as the town walls, which had 20 towers at some point. Courts were held here in 1495, in the Palace of the Alcaides, by order of King Manuel I, immediately after the death of his predecessor, King João II.

The town wall had four doors, of which three remain: Santiago (or Sol), Bispo (or Anjo), and Vila (Santarém or Porta Nova). The fourth was the Évora Door. The ruins of the Palace of the Alcaides are located to the South of this ensemble; it was the original nucleus of the castle and was severely damaged by the 1755 Earthquake.

In the 14th century, thanks to the peaceful atmosphere, the residents of Montemor-o-Novo started to move out of the castle to lower areas outside the walls, thus creating the new town. Regarding the old town, the Parish Records of 1758 say that only two couples lived there at the time.

Inside the wall, we find the Church of São João Batista, the Church of Santiago, the Convent of Saudação, the Church of Santa Maria do Bispo (ruins), and an archaeological area, where some streets and residential units from the 13th to the 17th century can be seen.