Evoramonte

Evoramonte's castle was rebuilt in the 1530s after an earthquake, and it is architecturally odd in a way that repays the detour: a square block with four fat cylindrical towers at the corners, its exterior banded by a carved stone rope with a knot at each tower - the Manueline rope motif, usually a decorative detail on a doorway, here run round an entire fortification. The interior has three vaulted floors on massive central columns. Around it the village is essentially one street of white houses inside a wall, with a few dozen residents. Its other claim is political: the Concession of Evoramonte was signed here in May 1834, ending the Portuguese civil war between the absolutist Miguel and the liberal Pedro, with Miguel going into permanent exile. The document was signed in a house in the village, now marked.

History

The settlement dates its founding to 1160, Afonso III gave it a charter in 1248 with further privileges in 1271, and King Denis had the town fortified in 1306. On 26 May 1834 the Concession of Evoramonte was signed here, ending the Liberal Wars, and the municipality was abolished in the reforms of 1855 (Wikipedia, Evoramonte).

What's there

• The rope banding - a carved Manueline rope with knots running round the whole castle.
• The four towers - fat cylinders at the corners of a square block.
• The vaulted interior - three floors on massive central columns.
• The 1834 concession - the house where the civil war was ended by treaty.

When to go

March to June and September to November; Alentejo summers are extremely hot. One to two hours. The castle closes on some days.

Practical notes

The village is tiny and has almost no services. The castle interior is largely empty. No shade, and the hilltop is exposed. Off the main routes, so a detour by car.

Nearby

Estremoz is north; Évora is south-west.

Key facts