Outeiro Castle

Outeiro Castle, locally fully known as Castelo de Outeiro de Miranda, lies on a ridge near the village of the same name in the Terras de Trás-os-Montes region in Portugal.

Archaeological evidence indicates that the site was occupied during Roman times before being fortified. In the reign of King Denis of Portugal (1279-1325), the settlement of Outeiro became royal property, and a charter (foral) was granted around 1290 as part of the crown’s effort to populate and defend frontier regions. The exact date of the castle’s construction is unknown. It was first mentioned in 1369, in a petition from villagers to the sovereign, asking for the castle to be repaired after an attack by Castilian forces.

During the 1383-1385 Portuguese interregnum, the town and its castle supported Beatrice of Portugal’s faction. It is believed that, as a result, the town and castle were conquered in winter 1386, during the siege of Chaves by King John I (1385-1433). By 1414, the castle had been rebuilt, and efforts were made to repopulate the settlement.

Until the reign of King Manuel I (1495-1521), the town was located on the slopes of the castle ridge. It then relocated to its current location in the valley. Outeiro Castle subsequently fell into disrepair.

Although the strategic importance of the castle had diminished, it was stormed by Spanish troops during the Portuguese Restoration War (1640-1668) and again in 1762, when Spanish forces burned down what remained of the castle.

Today, the ruins of Outeiro Castle are freely accessible. While not very interesting, as they mainly consist of several indistinct wall fragments, the views of the surrounding countryside are excellent.

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