Sesimbra Castle

Sesimbra Castle, locally known as Castelo de Sesimbra, lies above the town of the same name in the Península de Setúbal region in Portugal.

The site of the castle; a rocky outcrop running from east to west, 240 meters above a cove that constituted a natural harbor, has been used since prehistoric times. In the 9th century, the top of the cliff became a Muslim settlement by the name of Alcáçova, and it is probable that over time a fortification was erected on the highest point of the cliff.

The weakly garrisoned fortification of Alcáçova was first conquered by Christian forces under Afonso I of Portugal in 1165. He then had it repaired and strengthened. It was retaken by the Almohad caliph Yaqub al-Mansur in 1191, who afterward destroyed the fortification. With the help of Frankish crusaders, Sancho I of Portugal finally retook the settlement around 1200.

Because of its strategic importance and in an attempt to repopulate it, Sancho granted the settlement its first charter in 1201 and ordered the castle to be rebuilt from its foundations. In 1236, under the reign of his successor Sancho II of Portugal, Sesimbra Castle was granted to the knights of the Order of Santiago. In the course of the next hundred years, successive monarchs confirmed the settlement's charter, giving new privileges to its inhabitants and promoted the strengthening of the castle.

Because the inner castle was situated at the northeastern end of the elongated fortification, a new tower was built at the southwestern end in 1323 to serve as a lookout to identify Barbary pirates. During the remainder of the 14th century, Sesimbra gradually lost its importance. During the 1383-1385 Portuguese interregnum it was periodically plundered by Castilian naval troops, although John of Avis (the future king John I) sought refuge here in 1384.

In the following centuries, the townspeople gradually left the fortified settlement to move to the seaside below to pursue maritime activities. So, by 1516 there were already signs of abandonment. Still, the fortifications of the castle were updated during the 2nd part of the 17th century. In the 18th century, Sesimbra Castle definitively fell into dilapidation, with the 1755 Lisbon earthquake effectively turning it into a ruin.

From 1875 on, part of the outer castle was used as the town's graveyard. The castle walls were only restored in the late 20th century.

Sesimbra Castle can freely be visited, although the interior of the towers of the inner castle is closed, sadly enough. At present, it now serves as a public park. A very nice castle.

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