Marvão Castle

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

Exactly when the castle of Marvão was founded, is unknown. Although some sources attribute its foundation to Ibn Marwan al-Jilliqi, a Sufi Muslim leader, during the 870s.

The town and its fortress were taken from the Moors in the 1060s by the forces of Afonso I of Portugal. The town was granted its first charter in 1226 with the aim of keeping this advanced sentinel of Portuguese territory populated and defended against repeated incursions from Castile at the time.

At the beginning of the reign of Denis of Portugal, Marvão became part of a dispute between the king and his brother Afonso, who contested his right to the throne. As Marvão was strategically situated next to the border with Castile and had been granted to Afonso by their father, Denis conquered it in 1299. After that issue with Afonso had been settled, Marvão Castle was then expanded and strengthened.

As maintenance of the fortifications and low population numbers kept being a problem, Marvão was granted several privileges during the 15th century. During this period, reinforcements were also undertaken on the walls, as evidenced by the presence of turrets dating from the 15th and 16th centuries.

After the Restoration of Portuguese Independence in 1640, works were started to strengthen the castle and update its defenses to the advances in artillery. While these works were still under construction, Marvão Castle was attacked by Spanish forces in 1641 and 1648. Later that century the castle and town became an elongated bastioned fortress.

In 1704, the castle was conquered by Spanish forces, only to be retaken by the Portuguese a year later. The Spanish attacked again in 1772.

As a prelude to the Peninsular War, French and Spanish forces invaded Portugal in 1807. Marvão Castle was then occupied by French soldiers. They were driven out by the Portuguese the next year. Later that century, a civil war broke out in Portugal; known as the Liberal Wars (1828-1834), and in 1834 Marvão suffered its last siege.

The castle is situated on a 830m high ridge with steep sides and forms the northern part of the fortified town. It is very close to the border with Spain.

Marvão Castle can be visited for a fee. A great castle, offering fantastic views all around. I really recommend a visit. Another castle; Castelo de Vide Castle, can be seen to the north on clear days.

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