Ranhados Castle

Ranhados Castle, locally known as Castelo de Ranhados, lies on a hill overlooking the village of the same name in the Beiras e Serra da Estrela region in Portugal.

Little is known about the early history of Ranhados and its castle. Some sources attribute the initial charter (foral) for the settlement to King Denis of Portugal in 1286, suggesting that the castle was built or reconstructed at that time. Other authors favor a later date, under King Ferdinand I of Portugal (1367-1383), who donated the estate in 1381 to two brothers of the noble Távora family. Thus, the castle may have either been built during the late 13th century during Denis's reign or significantly developed during the late 14th century under Ferdinand I. The possibility of involvement of the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller is also mentioned.

Under the reign of King Manuel I of Portugal (1495-1521), the settlement received a new charter; however, this was not enough to halt its decline. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the area belonged to the Casa do Infantado, an estate for the 2nd eldest son of the Portuguese monarch. After 1834, the castle’s courtyard began to be used as the village cemetery, and the ruins were also used as a quarry by villagers.

The castle has an irregular oval (organic) plan adapted to the rocky ridge on which it stands. There are remains of 2 square towers, but not a keep. Its present appearance is also shaped by its use as a cemetery.

Today, Ranhados Castle is still used as a cemetery. When I visited, the cemetery gate was closed, and I don't know if it can be visited at other times. It’s a nice castle remnant in a quiet village. The black soils and the dead, brown trees seen in the photos are the result of forest fires and still smelled smoky.

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