Beja Castle is a medieval castle on the site of the Roman fortress of Beja, whose marble keep, ordered by King Dinis in 1310, rises about 40 metres above the city. The national monuments register describes the keep as considered the tallest in Europe, and it is the symbol of the city.
The castle is classified as a National Monument since 1910.
What to see at Beja Castle
- Keep: a Gothic tower of about 40 metres built in marble, with three floors, corner balconies on stone brackets and a walkway around the top. The second floor has a star-shaped ribbed vault.
- View: the top of the keep, reached by a spiral staircase, looks over the city and the plains of the Baixo Alentejo.
- Porta de Évora: a round Roman arch beside the castle, part of the Roman fortifications of the late 3rd or early 4th century.
- Casa do Governador: the governor's house, with twin windows in the Manueline and Mudéjar style, on the site of a palace built in the 15th century by King João II.
- Walls: the castle walls with their walkway and battlements. The old town walls had 40 towers and 7 gates.
History of Beja Castle
- Roman period: the Romans fortify the town of Pax Julia, whose gates include the arch of the Porta de Évora.
- 1253: King Afonso III begins restoring the walls of Beja, paid for over ten years with church tithes.
- 1310: King Dinis orders the keep, which is completed under King João I.
- 15th century: King João II builds a palace in the castle for the honeymoon of his son Afonso, the origin of the Casa do Governador.
- Early 16th century: works under King Manuel I add Manueline windows to the keep and the palace.
- 1644: during the War of Restoration, new bastions reinforce the defences.
- 1910: the castle is classified as a National Monument.
- From 1938: the state restores the Porta de Évora and the roof of the castle.
Visiting Beja Castle
- Location: the castle stands at the edge of the historic centre of Beja.
- Nearby: the Beja Regional Museum is a short walk away, in the old town.
- Opening times: the Beja Municipality publishes current opening times and prices.
Places to visit in Beja
