The Castelo dos Mouros, is a partially reconstructed fortified castle that originates from the Moorish era of Portugal which sits high above the town of Sintra. In English the Castelo dos Mouros translates to Castle of the Moors though the majority or the walls and ramparts were reconstructed during the 19th century as part of King Ferdinand II’s transformation of the Pena Palace and surround area.

The reconstruction retained the charm of the ancient fortified castle and, thou not as old as the name implies, is an interesting sight of Sintra. Inside the castle the ramparts and solid stone walls provide panoramic views over the hills of the Seriar da Sintra and the plains leading west to the Atlantic Ocean.

 

Close to the entrance is the Romanesque Church of Saint Peter. The Moorish Castle of Sintra is always second on the tourist trail of Sintra behind the magnificent Pena Palace, but for those visitors with plenty of energy and time the Castelo dos Mouros is worthy of a visit.

Information about the Castelo dos Mouros

Opening times: 9.30am-8pm, during the summer season. Admission: €14.00 combined ticket with Pena Palace. The Castelo dos Mouros is only 3.5Km from the centre of Sintra but the road climbs a very steep hill. The majority of tourists to Sintra catch the tourist bus operated by Scotturb which performs a loop from the train station – town centre- Moorish Castle – Pena Palace – Train station.

Due to the narrow roads the bus only goes in one direction and the ticket is just for one loop. The bus can get very busy during height of season and is relatively expensive considering the price of all other transport in Portugal. The bus departs from the train station every 20 minutes and is clearly signed at Sintra.

 

For those on a very tight budget the ticket barrier is on the main entrance to the castle; the walk under the trees along the wall to the main gate is free (approximately 400m) and gives a good impression of the castle, but no panoramic views.

 

History of the Castelo dos Mouros

 

The origins of the castle date back to the 8th century and invasion of the Muslims from the north of Africa. The Site of the castle provided a suitable vantage point with views over the estuary of the river Tejo and the plains to the North of Lisbon, with the aim of controlling the strategic land routes linking the Mafra, Sintra, Cascais and Lisbon. Arab chronicles depict the Sintra region as being very rich in cultivated fields and the Castelo dos Mouros was one of the most important castles in the region, more important than the castle of central Lisbon. The initial crusade lead by King Alfonso VI of Castile captured the Castelo dos Mouros in 1093 but with limited forces was driven out the following year. The castle flourished with the return of the Moors and defensive fortifications were improved.

The increase in fortifications was not enough to repel the second much large crusade which freed Lisbon (and then Sintra) from Moorish rule in 1147. The crusader army lead by Afonso Henrique’s army comprised of drunks and thieves, who upon liberating Lisbon promptly sacked the capital. Sintra and the Castelo dos Mouros withstood longer than Lisbon but succumbed to the siege and sheer numbers of the crusaders army.

 

Afonso Henriques and his son D. Sancho both strengthened the castles defences but the royal court favoured Lisbon. The castle remained in the background, with its prestige steadily reducing by the early 15th century the only inhabitants were Jewish settlers. With the expulsion of Jews from Portugal in mid 15th century the castle was abandoned.

 

The keep was damage in 1636 as a great fire ripped through the castle caused by a lightning bolt. The damage to the castle was compounded by the 1755 earthquake; the castle was never even considered in the rebuilding work than ensued the earthquake. The Castelo dos Mouros was destined to be a forgotten ruin until King Ferdinand II transformed the entire region of Sintra. Ferdinand II was a king obsessed by art, drama and the good life - he romanticised the middle ages and ordered the reconstruction of the castle. The taste of the era was to construct imaginative areas for contemplation, winding paths lined with exotic plants and lands full of lush vegetation.

 

The Moorish Castle was classified as National Monument by Decree on 23 June 1910. The intervention of the Portuguese government on the monument began in 1939 with the reconstruction of sections of the walls. Major cleaning and reconstruction of walls, steps and niches in various parts of the castle was undertaken in 1986. The cleaning was again repeated in 1992. The castles of Sintra were classified as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1995.