Sesimbra Castle

The castle sits on a hill about two hundred metres above Sesimbra, on a site fortified since before the Muslim period and rebuilt repeatedly - taken by Afonso Henriques in 1165, lost, retaken in 1200, held by the Order of Santiago, ruined by the 1755 earthquake and conserved in 1933-1945. The walls form a circuit with towers that can be walked most of the way round, giving the town and its bay directly below, the Arrábida ridge east and the Atlantic west. Inside the enceinte are the church of Nossa Senhora do Castelo, restored in 1721, with an azulejo interior and a cemetery, and the ruins of the medieval settlement that stood here before the population moved down to the shore. Entry is free, which is unusual for a castle of this size, and it is far quieter than the beach town below.

History

The castle stands on a site occupied in prehistoric times and was a Muslim settlement in the 9th century; Afonso Henriques took it in 1165, its walls were strengthened again in 1323, when the West Tower was built as a lookout for pirates, and in 1384 it sheltered John of Avis and his troops. From the 15th century people moved down to the bay, the ramparts were reinforced in 1693 and the church restored in 1721, and conservation work followed in 1933-1945 and 1998 (Wikipedia, Castle of Sesimbra).

What to look for

• The wall circuit - towers and rampart walkable most of the way round.
• The church - Nossa Senhora do Castelo with an azulejo interior and cemetery.
• The old settlement - ruins of the town that stood inside the walls before moving down.
• The view - Sesimbra bay below, Arrábida east and the Atlantic west.

When to go

Year-round. One to two hours. Late afternoon for light over the bay. Free entry, unlike most Portuguese castles.

What to expect

The road up is steep and narrow with limited parking. Wall walks have uneven stone and sections without railings. Very exposed to wind. Facilities amount to a small café that keeps irregular hours.

Nearby

Sesimbra town and its bay are below; Cabo Espichel is west along the coast.

Key facts