Description of the attraction
The medieval Beja castle is located in the northwestern part of the city, on a hill, and is visible from afar.
The castle was built in the 13th century, during the reign of King Dinis, on the site of the ruins of a Roman and later Moorish fortification. The castle was built at the same time as the city walls and was surrounded by a battlement wall, and a square tower towered at each corner. Inside, right in the middle, was a watchtower-donjon, Torri di Menagen, built of granite and marble. Torri di Menagene is 40 meters high and is the tallest watchtower in Portugal and a magnificent example of medieval architecture. There are small pyramids on the teeth of the Torri de Menagenes hinged loophole. There is also a preserved Romanesque arch, which stands on stone slabs. To get to the top of the watchtower, from where you can enjoy unmatched views of the city and the plains, you need to climb a spiral staircase that has 197 steps. On the way up, visitors pass through three rooms with Gothic-style windows. Attention is drawn to the ceiling of the rooms, made in the form of a fan vault with elements of the Gothic style. Currently, the castle houses a small military museum.
Not far from the castle are the ruins of the city walls. The once high and strong city walls were crowned with 40 towers, and also had five gates. Since June 16, 1910, Beja Castle has been classified as a National Monument of Portugal.
