Castle of Alandroal

The Castle of Alandroal is situated in the municipality of Alandroal, Portugal, and was constructed by the medieval Christian kingdom of Portugal. Its origins date back to the late 13th century during the reign of King D. Denis, a period marked by territorial consolidation and the strengthening of border defenses.

Construction of the castle began on February 6, 1294, under the direction of D. Lourenço Afonso, Master of the military Order of Avis, who laid the foundation stone. The building process was completed within four years, by February 24, 1298, with D. Lourenço Afonso continuing as the overseeing authority. A notable historical inscription records that the builder identified himself as “Eu, Mouro Galvo,” indicating the involvement of a Moor who distinguished himself from the enemy forces, highlighting the complex cultural interactions in the region during the Reconquista.

Throughout the later 14th century, the castle’s strategic importance lessened. Pedro Rodrigues served as its alcalde (military governor) between 1383 and 1385, a period that aligns with Portugal’s internal conflicts and struggles for power. The settlement around the castle grew, and by 1486 King João II granted Alandroal a formal charter, elevating it to town status, which underscored its administrative and civic development. The castle and the surrounding town were documented by Duarte de Armas in his early 16th-century work, the Livro das Fortalezas, showing its continued recognition as a fortification of regional significance.

By the early 17th century, much of the castle’s interior structures had fallen into ruin, reflecting a transition from military to civilian uses and the decline of its defensive role. In the following centuries, particularly the 18th century, the fortress underwent notable changes; the barbican, an outer defensive wall, was demolished to make way for municipal buildings and a regional jail within the castle’s walls. This reconfiguration led to the loss of the original tower and belfry, signifying a shift from military to judicial and civil functions.

The 20th century saw renewed efforts to preserve the castle. Restoration and consolidation campaigns mainly conducted in the 1940s and 1950s by the Directorate-General for Buildings and National Monuments (DGEMN) focused on rebuilding walls, restoring the keep tower, and removing residential constructions attached to the fortifications. Further repairs addressing structural stability and masonry took place in the 1980s. The castle was officially recognized as a National Monument in 1910, later coming under the care of the Portuguese Institute of Architectural Heritage in 1992, ensuring its protection as a historic landmark.