Castle of Vila Flor

The Castle of Vila Flor (Portuguese: Castelo de Vila Flor) is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Vila Flor e Nabo, municipality of Vila Flor, Portuguese district of Bragança.[1]

History

Early history

The presence of several ancient forts in ruins suggest indicates that the region has been occupied by prehistoric humans.

Medieval era

Archeological and anedoctal evidence places the establishment of the village at the height of the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the eleventh century.

It and the region became part of the Kingdom of Portugal under King Afonso I of Portugal upon Portugal's independence.

On 24 May 1286, King Dinis (1279-1325) granted a Foral Charter to the village, the first time of its existence in the record books. In 1295, the king rose the village to a town status.

The village was sympathetic to Jewish families who were expelled from other parts of Europe. Influx of immigration led to the development of agriculture, trade and manufacturing of leather and jewelry.

King Manuel (1495-1521) handed the town a new Foral Charter on 4 May 1512. However, the new Charter was anti-Semitic and drove away a lot of Jews, resulting in a massive decline of the population.

Modern day

Over time, the castle saw its usefulness decline. Townspeople neglected to maintain proper of the castle and the fortress slowly wore due to the force of nature. The castle is mostly in ruins with a few left standing.[2]

It was later decreed by the Portuguese government that it is a site of Public interest on 20 October 1955.[3]

Characteristics

Dom Dinis Arch in Vila Flor Castle

The castle is protected by a ring of wall that originally had five gates. Of these five ports, only one portcullis survives and is named as South Gate or Arch of D. Dinis. It is a pointed arch with dimensions of 3.5 meters wide by 4 meters high and is held by two semicircular plant towers.

References

"DGPC | Direção Geral do Património Cultural". www.patrimoniocultural.pt. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
"Monumentos". www.monumentos.pt. Archived from the original on 2015-01-11. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
"DGPC | Pesquisa Geral". www.patrimoniocultural.pt. Retrieved 2016-03-20.

Castles in Portugal
Castle of Abrantes Castle of Alandroal Castle of Alcácer do Sal Castle of Alcanede Castle of Alcantarilha Castle of Alcobaça Castle of Alcoutim Castle of Alegrete Castle of Alenquer Castle of Alfaiates Castle of Alfândega da Fé Castle of Alfeizerão Castle of Algoso Castle of Aljezur Castle of Aljustrel Castle of Almada Castle of Almourol Castle of Alter do Chão Castle of Alter Pedroso Castle of Alva Castle of Alvito Castle of Alvor Castle of Amieira do Tejo Castle of Arraiolos Castle of Arronches Castle of Atouguia da Baleia Castle of Avis Castle of Avô Castle of Azinhalinho Castle of Balsamão Castle of Barbacena Porto Pim bartizan Castle of Beja Castle of Belmonte Castle of Belver Castle of Bemposta Castle of Borba Castle of Braga Castle of Bragança Castle of Caminha Castle of Campo Maior Castle of Carrazeda de Ansiães Castle of Castelo Bom Castle of Castelo Branco Castelo de Idanha-a-Velha Castelo de Longroiva Castelo de Montel Castelo de Montemor-o-Novo Castelo de Nisa Castelo de Oleiros Castelo de Palmela Castelo de Pirescoxe Castelo de Portuzelo Castelo de Ranhados Castelo de Sesimbra Castelo de Sines Castelo de Torre de Coelheiros Castelo de Torres Vedras Castelo de Veiros Castle of Castelo Melhor Castle of Castelo Mendo Castle of Castelo de Vide Castle of Castelo Rodrigo Castle Fortress of Almeida Castle of Castro Marim Castle of Celorico da Beira Castle of Chaves Castle of Cola Castle of Crato Castle of Curutelo Castle of Degebe Castle of Elvas Castle of Esporão Castle of Estremoz Castle of Evoramonte Castle of Faria Fernandine Walls of Porto Castle of Folgosinho Castle of Freixo de Espada-à-Cinta Castle of Freixo de Numão Castle of Geraldo Castle of Guarda Castle of Guimarães Castle of Idanha-a-Nova Castelo de Juromenha Castle of Lagos Castle of Lamego Castle of Lanhoso Castle of Leiria Castle of Linhares Castle of Loulé Castle of Lousa Castle of Lousã Castle of Marialva Castle of Marvão Castle of Mau Vizinho (Vila Real) Castle of Melgaço Castle of Mertola Castle of Messejana Castle of Miranda do Douro Castle of Mirandela Castle of Mogadouro Castle of Moinhos Castle of Monção Castle of Monforte (Chaves) Castle of Monforte (Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo) Castle of Monsanto Castelo de Monsaraz Montalegre Castle Castle of Montalvão Castle of Montemor-o-Velho Castle of the Moors Castle of Moreira de Rei Castle of Mós Castle of Moura Castle of Mourão Castle of Noudar Castle of Numão Castle of Óbidos Castle of Ouguela Castle of Ourém Castle of Ourique Castle of Outeiro Castle of Paderne Castle of Pena de Aguiar Castle of Penamacor Castle of Penas Róias Castle of Penedono Castle of Penela Castle of Pinhel Castle of Pombal Castle of Portalegre Castle of Portel Castelo de Porto de Mós Castle of Rebordãos Castle of Redondo Castle of Redondos Castle of Ródão Sabugal Castle Castle of Salir Castle of Santa Maria da Feira Castle of Santarém Castle of Santo Estêvão São Jorge Castle Castle of São Ramão Castle of Seda Castle of Senhora da Luz Castle of Sernancelhe Castle of Serpa Castle of Silves Castle of Sortelha Castle of Soure Castle of Tavira Castle of Terena Castelo de Tomar Castelo de Torre de Moncorvo Castle of Torres Novas Tower of Bera Tower of Ferreira de Aves Castle of Trancoso Castle of Valongo Castle of Viana do Alentejo Castle of Vidigueira Castle of Vidigueiras Castle of Vila Flor Castle of Vila Nova de Cerveira Castle of Vila Nova de Foz Côa Castle of Vila Verde dos Francos Castle of Vila Viçosa Castle of Vilar Maior Castle of Vinhais
Also See: Castles in Portugal

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.