Alcanede Castle

Alcanede Castle, locally known as Castelo de Alcanede, lies in the village of the same name in the Lezíria do Tejo region in Portugal.

The first fortification at this site was probably founded when the area was under Roman rule, and may even have been preceded by a 'castro' (an Iron Age hillfort).

There was certainly a Muslim fortification here in 1091, when it was taken by the troops of Henry, Count of Portugal, in the course of the Reconquista. It was later recovered by the Moors. The castle was definitively conquered by the Christians around 1147 by Afonso I of Portugal. In the late 12th century, it was granted to the Order of Calatrava, a Spanish military order.

Alcanede Castle passed to the Military Order of Aviz around 1300. They strengthened it and built the present keep. In 1370, men from Alcanede were exempted from participating in the upkeep of Santarém Castle, under the stipulation that they maintained their own castle.

The 1531 Lisbon earthquake damaged the castle. Having no more military function or strategic importance it was not repaired anymore and from then on slowly fell to ruin.

In the 1940s, the ruined castle was restored back to its present appearance. It has a somewhat rectangular plan, with a keep at its eastern end.

Alcanede Castle can freely be visited. A charming little castle.

Gallery