Castle of Vila Verde dos Francos: A Medieval Castle in Portugal
Site at a Glance
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Portugal
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Portuguese
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page5 sections
History
The Castle of Vila Verde dos Francos is a ruined medieval castle in the municipality of Alenquer, Portugal, associated with a grant made in 1160. That year, Afonso Henriques, regarded as Portugal’s first king, granted Vila Verde dos Francos to D. Alardo, a French captain, and a group of Crusaders. The grant recognized their support in the conquest of Lisbon, Sintra, Almada, Palmela, and Alenquer. Tradition credits D. Alardo with building the castle after Afonso Henriques issued a settlement charter establishing rights, privileges, and obligations.
Ruin and conservation
By the mid-18th century, the castle was already in ruins. Wild blackberry growth later prompted clearance of the site, consolidation of masonry, and repositioning of some stones. The walls were consolidated again in 1987.
Remains
The castle stands on the summit of a small, rocky hill in an isolated rural setting near the settlement, amid fields and vineyards. Its remains have an irregular layout, formed by several lines of foundation walls. Limestone and mixed stone-and-brick masonry were used in the construction.
Walls and towers
Remnants of rectangular towers survive at the ends of the wall lines, with an entranceway along their lower part. At the opposite end, a severely ruined structure may have begun as a curved stretch of wall.
Chapel
A compact structure among the remains was identified by researcher Jorge Peixoto as a chapel dedicated to Saint Louis.
