Arraiolos Castle

Arraiolos Castle, locally known as Castelo de Arraiolos, lies in the town of the same name in the Alentejo Central region in Portugal.

Although the donation of the settlement, in 1217, by Afonso II of Portugal to the Bishop of Évora, came with the permission to build a castle, this did not transpire.

As the settlement grew, the need for a fortification again became apparent. So, in 1305, the town was stipulated, by Denis of Portugal, to erect a castle. Subsequently, Arraiolos Castle was built between 1306 and 1310.

When finished, the castle consisted of a somewhat elliptical curtain wall with 2 gates circling a church on a low hill. A square, inner castle, with a slender tall keep and incorporated into the curtain wall, was situated next to the south gate. This inner castle was called the Paço dos Alcaides (Mayor's Palace).

In the 2nd half of the 14th century, however, the castle already started to be abandoned, Reputedly as it was unpleasant to live in, due to being situated on a very windy and cold location. King Ferdinand I of Portugal tried to remedy this in 1371 by granting special privileges to its inhabitants. These measures, however, proved useless, as not even closing the doors at night, depriving residents outside the sacraments in the church, was able to prevent the depopulation of the castle.

Between 1385 and 1390, several military expeditions against Castile departed from the castle.

At the end of the 16th century Arraiolos Castle still had some inhabitants and its doors were still being closed every night. But at the beginning of the 17th century it had finally been left unguarded as the locals started to use it as a stone quarry. So, by 1613, it was already in an advanced state of ruin.

Following the Restoration of Portuguese Independence in 1640 the castle ruin was restored, but to no avail. As by 1655 it was again thoroughly in ruins. The 1755 Lisbon earthquake damaged the ruins even further.

Arraiolos Castle can freely be visited. A very nice castle ruin.

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