Amieira do Tejo Castle

Amieira do Tejo Castle, locally known as Castelo da Amieira do Tejo, lies in the town of the same name in the Alentejo Central region in Portugal.

The area of Amieira do Tejo, situated south of the Tagus River, was donated to the Knights Hospitaller, by Sancho II of Portugal, in 1232. This was probably done with the aim to extend the so-called Tagus Line; a defensive line against the Almohads, formed by several castles along the river, amongst which the castles of Torres Novas, Almourol, Abrantes and Belver.

Amieira do Tejo Castle was however only constructed by the Hospitallers around a century later, from 1350 until around 1370. During its construction, it was visited by Peter I of Portugal. After it was finished, it mainly served to protect and assist travelling pilgrims. It was then administered by the Hospital priory at Crato.

The only military episode in which the castle was involved occurred in 1440. Then, the Hospitallers, who were supporting Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Portugal, during a succession crisis against Peter, Duke of Coimbra, were strengthened with Castilian forces, who surrounded Amieira. Faced with this insubordination, Peter ordered the occupation of the castles of the Hospital priory in this border region. The castles quickly surrendered without any resistance, after which Eleanor and the Hospital prior fled to Castile.

During the reigns of John II of Portugal and his successor Manuel I (1481-1521) Amieira do Tejo Castle was modernized several times. Simultaneously, it served as a prison.

From the 17th century onwards, the castle started to lose its importance and its use changed. Residential structures were built inside the castle walls, but these were destroyed during the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The castle fell into abandonment and in the mid-19th century started to being used as a graveyard. This use lasted until 1940, after which it was restored.

Amieira do Tejo Castle can be visited for a fee. Sadly enough, it had just closed when I came by, but I was kindly allowed to walk around to take some pictures for a couple of minutes. A very nice castle.

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