Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 38.44226264344594, -7.381745753969232

The Castle of Monsaraz, in Alentejo, is located in the parish of Monsaraz, municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz, district of Évora, in Portugal.

Neighboring the Guadiana River and the modern reflecting pool of the Alqueva Dam, it rises over Mount Monsaraz, dominating the medieval village and the border with Spain. Its military architecture mixes medieval and 17th century elements.

The fortifications and the entire set within the walls of the town of Monsaraz are classified as a National Monument by Decree published on January 2, 1946.

History

Background

In a region riddled with megalithic monuments, it is believed that the primitive human occupation of this place dates back to a prehistoric castro, successively occupied by Romans, Visigoths and Muslims, who obtained their subsistence from activities linked to the agro-pastoral economy. The toponym is linked to this last domain, since, in Portuguese, the word xarez (or xerez) derives from the Arabic saris (or sharish), designating the vegetation of cistus (xaras), then abundant on the banks of the Guadiana river. The toponym Monsaraz, therefore, evolved from Monte Xarez (or Xaraz).

The medieval castle

At the time of the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, the town was initially conquered by forces under the command of the legendary Geraldo Sem Pavor (1167). After the defeat of D. Afonso Henriques (1112-1185) in Badajoz (1169) it was recovered by the Almohad Caliphate under the command of Abu Yacub Iúçufe I (r. 1163–1184) (1173), to be definitively conquered by D. Sancho II (1223-1248), with the help of the Knights Templar, in 1232, to whom he donated these domains. From this time, we are left with the memory of the Templar knight Gomes Martins Silvestre, a resident of Monsaraz, whose tomb is currently in the Igreja Matriz de Santa Maria da Lagoa.

D. Afonso III (1248-1279), aiming to increase its settlement and defense, granted it a charter in 1276. During this period, the settlement of Monsaraz is linked to the figure of the knight Martim Anes Zagallo, who is believed to have exercised the function of mayor of the village and its castle, having started the works of the new citadel, a time when the primitive Mother Church of Santa Maria da Lagoa and other buildings were also started.

Monsaraz Castle

With the extinction of the Order in Portugal, with its patrimony passed to the Order of Christ (1319), Monsaraz is erected in Commendation of the new Order, in the dependence of Castro Marim. It is in this phase, under the reign of D. Dinis (1279-1325), that the reconstruction of the Torre de Menagem (1310) and the expansion of the village fence began, structures that, with alterations, have reached our days.

In the context of the 1383-1385 crisis, the town and its castle were attacked by English archers under the command of the Earl of Cambridge, supposedly allies of Portugal, falling, in the beginning of the summer of 1385, under the rule of the King of Castile. , when he invaded Alentejo. Abandoned by Castilian troops on the march, they were recovered by forces loyal to D. João I (1385-1433), under the command of Constable D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, before the battle of Aljubarrota. In 1412, by donation from the Constable to his grandson D. Fernando, Monsaraz became part of the domains of the House of Bragança.

Under the reign of King Manuel I (1495-1521), the town and its castle are depicted by Duarte de Armas (Livro das Fortalezas, c. 1509). In 1512, the sovereign granted the Foral Novo to the village.

From the Restoration War to the present day\ In the context of the Restoration War of Portuguese independence, due to the proximity to the Guadiana River and the Spanish border, the War Council of King João IV (1640- 1656) determined the modernization of its defenses, surrounding the village with walls adapted to the artillery fire of the time, receiving bulwark features in the Vauban style, with a project by Nicolau de Langres and Jean Gillot: the Fort of São Bento de Monsaraz.

In the 19th century, with its economic and strategic importance gone, the seat of the Council passed to the village of Reguengos de Monsaraz, on the plains (1840). From then on, the fortification was abandoned, which caused the ruin of several of its elements.

A key to the castle, offered by the Parish Council of Monsaraz to Mário Soares when he visited during the Open Presidency in Beja, between 26 October and 7 November 1987, is in the collection of the Mário Soares Foundation.

Characteristics

The castle, at a higher level, has a quadrangular plan, with a shale and lime stone wall reinforced by towers, delimiting the main square, where the citadel buildings and the keep are built.

Access to the walled interior is via four doors in granite stonework:

the Porta da Vila, in an ogival arch, protected by two semi-cylindrical turrets, one of which is crowned by the whitewashed bell of the clock, connects Rua Direita with the outskirts. It has a ribbed ceiling and, at the top of the dome, a bell cast by foreigners Diogo de Abalde and Domingos de Lastra, dating from 1692. Over the ogival arch of the door, a marble tombstone commemorates the consecration of the kingdom of Portugal to the Immaculate Conception (at the time of the Restoration of Independence), and, on the back of the jamb, you can see the rod and the cubit, measures used in medieval times. the Porta de Évora, in an ogival arch; the Porta da Cisterna or Porta do Buraco, in a full arch; the Porta da Alcoba, in a full arch. The entire fence, in plan oval, based on the mixed use of shale, abundant in the region, granite, red clay mortar and lime.

Although the plan for the Fort of São Bento had been drawn in a star shape, the morphology of the land where it was built led to some alterations in the planimetry. The fort has three bastions, a parapet and an artificial curtain that extended around the village, with the Hermitage of São Bento de Monsaraz integrated into the walls.

Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 38.44226264344594, -7.381745753969232

The Castle of Monsaraz, in Alentejo, is located in the parish of Monsaraz, municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz, district of Évora, in Portugal.

Neighboring the Guadiana River and the modern reflecting pool of the Alqueva Dam, it rises over Mount Monsaraz, dominating the medieval village and the border with Spain. Its military architecture mixes medieval and 17th century elements.

The fortifications and the entire set within the walls of the town of Monsaraz are classified as a National Monument by Decree published on January 2, 1946.

History

Background

In a region riddled with megalithic monuments, it is believed that the primitive human occupation of this place dates back to a prehistoric castro, successively occupied by Romans, Visigoths and Muslims, who obtained their subsistence from activities linked to the agro-pastoral economy. The toponym is linked to this last domain, since, in Portuguese, the word xarez (or xerez) derives from the Arabic saris (or sharish), designating the vegetation of cistus (xaras), then abundant on the banks of the Guadiana river. The toponym Monsaraz, therefore, evolved from Monte Xarez (or Xaraz).

The medieval castle

At the time of the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, the town was initially conquered by forces under the command of the legendary Geraldo Sem Pavor (1167). After the defeat of D. Afonso Henriques (1112-1185) in Badajoz (1169) it was recovered by the Almohad Caliphate under the command of Abu Yacub Iúçufe I (r. 1163–1184) (1173), to be definitively conquered by D. Sancho II (1223-1248), with the help of the Knights Templar, in 1232, to whom he donated these domains. From this time, we are left with the memory of the Templar knight Gomes Martins Silvestre, a resident of Monsaraz, whose tomb is currently in the Igreja Matriz de Santa Maria da Lagoa.

D. Afonso III (1248-1279), aiming to increase its settlement and defense, granted it a charter in 1276. During this period, the settlement of Monsaraz is linked to the figure of the knight Martim Anes Zagallo, who is believed to have exercised the function of mayor of the village and its castle, having started the works of the new citadel, a time when the primitive Mother Church of Santa Maria da Lagoa and other buildings were also started.

Monsaraz Castle

With the extinction of the Order in Portugal, with its patrimony passed to the Order of Christ (1319), Monsaraz is erected in Commendation of the new Order, in the dependence of Castro Marim. It is in this phase, under the reign of D. Dinis (1279-1325), that the reconstruction of the Torre de Menagem (1310) and the expansion of the village fence began, structures that, with alterations, have reached our days.

In the context of the 1383-1385 crisis, the town and its castle were attacked by English archers under the command of the Earl of Cambridge, supposedly allies of Portugal, falling, in the beginning of the summer of 1385, under the rule of the King of Castile. , when he invaded Alentejo. Abandoned by Castilian troops on the march, they were recovered by forces loyal to D. João I (1385-1433), under the command of Constable D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, before the battle of Aljubarrota. In 1412, by donation from the Constable to his grandson D. Fernando, Monsaraz became part of the domains of the House of Bragança.

Under the reign of King Manuel I (1495-1521), the town and its castle are depicted by Duarte de Armas (Livro das Fortalezas, c. 1509). In 1512, the sovereign granted the Foral Novo to the village.

From the Restoration War to the present day\ In the context of the Restoration War of Portuguese independence, due to the proximity to the Guadiana River and the Spanish border, the War Council of King João IV (1640- 1656) determined the modernization of its defenses, surrounding the village with walls adapted to the artillery fire of the time, receiving bulwark features in the Vauban style, with a project by Nicolau de Langres and Jean Gillot: the Fort of São Bento de Monsaraz.

In the 19th century, with its economic and strategic importance gone, the seat of the Council passed to the village of Reguengos de Monsaraz, on the plains (1840). From then on, the fortification was abandoned, which caused the ruin of several of its elements.

A key to the castle, offered by the Parish Council of Monsaraz to Mário Soares when he visited during the Open Presidency in Beja, between 26 October and 7 November 1987, is in the collection of the Mário Soares Foundation.

Characteristics

The castle, at a higher level, has a quadrangular plan, with a shale and lime stone wall reinforced by towers, delimiting the main square, where the citadel buildings and the keep are built.

Access to the walled interior is via four doors in granite stonework:

the Porta da Vila, in an ogival arch, protected by two semi-cylindrical turrets, one of which is crowned by the whitewashed bell of the clock, connects Rua Direita with the outskirts. It has a ribbed ceiling and, at the top of the dome, a bell cast by foreigners Diogo de Abalde and Domingos de Lastra, dating from 1692. Over the ogival arch of the door, a marble tombstone commemorates the consecration of the kingdom of Portugal to the Immaculate Conception (at the time of the Restoration of Independence), and, on the back of the jamb, you can see the rod and the cubit, measures used in medieval times. the Porta de Évora, in an ogival arch; the Porta da Cisterna or Porta do Buraco, in a full arch; the Porta da Alcoba, in a full arch. The entire fence, in plan oval, based on the mixed use of shale, abundant in the region, granite, red clay mortar and lime.

Although the plan for the Fort of São Bento had been drawn in a star shape, the morphology of the land where it was built led to some alterations in the planimetry. The fort has three bastions, a parapet and an artificial curtain that extended around the village, with the Hermitage of São Bento de Monsaraz integrated into the walls.