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4.5
If you like heights, this is a place to go… if not, you’ll have anyway to keep the step with your kids, as it happened in our case.
I was so scared looking at my kid running alone in front of me on the top of those walls…
If you read this, that means that the trip had a happy ending but my heart is still beating hard as I remember that experience.
We’ve got anyway the chance to see the entire region from the top tower and everything was forgotten then.
And more than this we’ve noticed a nice lady getting sketches from the walls…
In the era of the Japanese (or Chinese-even worst) cameras, she was so “abnormal” and unusual apparition that I’ve had to get some pictures… and even my wife had enjoyed this :)
Congratulation young lady... keep doing your sketches and I’m sure that I’ll see again your red beret somewhere-sometime.
Do I have to say something about the castle?
Why not… It is a “normal” fortress with an impressive position above the entire surrounding World.
Built by the Moors around the VIII-IX centuries and rebuilt in XIV century by the Christians it is still a nice "story teller", its preferred story being about the confrontation between the two civilizations, the European and the Arab one, more than thousand years ago.
If you want to find more, Wikipedia is exactly what you need :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_the_Moors_(Sintra)
Written May 15, 2012
Address: Go in Sintra-you'll find it
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Castelo dos Mouros (the Moorish Castle), perches on its hilltop, a silent sentinal above the town of Sintra.
The Portugese of today waves from several of its crenelated towers along the walls.
But these photos here show the approach walk which leads you through a moss draped forest with enormous boulders overpowering you at every step. There is a trail that it is possible to take down to the city of Sintra.
Written Oct 31, 2011
Phone: +351 21 923 73 00
Website: http://www.parquesdesintra.pt
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It's nice to see the castle from the city, and its nice to see the views from the castle. But, compared with the other highlights of Sintra, I can't say that it deserves the 3.50 € charged at the entrance.
If you have time, and being so close to the "obligatory" palace of Pena, you may include it in your plans. But there are plenty of more expressive castles in Portugal and expressive buildings in Sintra to see. Anyway, it seems to be one of the oldest (9th century) keeping signs of its later occupation - doors, a chapel, a cistern, so... why not?
Updated Jun 21, 2011
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This was the residence of the Alcaide, the military governor of the fortress during the Muslim period. It was the stately part, designed to be the last redoubt able to withstand any attack from within or from outside the castles walls.
Written Dec 11, 2010
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Located next to the ruins of the Sao Pedro De Canaferrim Church, outside the entrance of the Moorish Castle, the Ossuary was built in the 19th century to receive the remains exhumed in the porch of the old church during restoration work.
Written Dec 11, 2010
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Located outside the entrance of the Moorish Castle, this church was built during King Afonso Henriques reign (1143-1185), the first king of Portugal. The church was no longer used in the 15th century and was altered into a romantic ruin by King Fernando II in the 19th century.
Written Dec 11, 2010
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Known simply in English as Moorish Castle, this ruined castle is located on a high hill overlooking the town and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally, the castle was built by the Moors, possibly between the 9th and 10th centuries. Arab chronicles depict the Sintra region as being very rich in cultivated fields and their castle was one of the most important in the surroundings.
In 1109, the castle became subject to an attack by crusading Norwegians, no less, lead by King Sigurd I, on their way to the Holy Land. Every man at the castle were said to have been killed as they had refused to become christened. In 1147, after the conquest of Lisbon by King Afonso Henriques, the Moorish garrison of the castle surrendered to the Christians without resistance. Afonso Henriques promoted the development of the region by granting a foral (letter of feudal rights) to the inhabitants of Sintra and its castle in 1154. The decline of the castle began in the 15th century, when most of the population settled downhill, in today's old quarter of Sintra. In the 16th century, the castle lost all military relevance and was abandoned by its last inhabitants, the Sintra Jews. In 1830, after a long period of ruin, King Ferdinand II started renovating it in the romantic spirit of the time.
The castle has two walled segments with a total perimeter of 450 metres. The walls at the north segment took advantage of the natural slope of the hill to prevent enemies from approaching the castle. Near the entrance is the Romanesque Church of Saint Peter, which dates from the 12th-13th centuries and some medieval tombs. It's quite some climb up to the castle from the old quarter (which is what I did), so take plenty of food and water with you. The views from it are breathtaking.
Open: 9.30am-8pm. Admission: €14.00 when combined with entry to the nearby Pena National Palace.
Written Dec 11, 2010
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We love old ruins.Expecially this kind of ruins.I start to wonder how it would have been at it´s glory days.These ones left as they are,are way more interesrting than restored ones.
Luckily my husband loves them too!And I love takin photos of these kind of places.I took tens of photos here also.
Written Mar 16, 2010
Address: Pena road
Website: http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/_tourism/costadelisboa/sintra/mouros.html
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The Moorish Castle of Sintra dates back to the 9th C and was either constructed by the Arabs or they built a new one on the top of an Older one. It served as an excellent observation post as the whole coast line is visable from the ramparts as the castle sits on the mountain some 450 m above sea level.
There are fantastic views from the castle walls but the walls are quite steep and narrow in some parts so please take care as there are no safety barriers.
The castle was mostly destroyed in the earthquake of 1755 and was rebuilt in the 19th c, this can be plainly seen when looking at the walls, The medieval base being made up of regular ashlars with the more haphazard 19th c reconstruction on the top of it.
There is also a secound curtain wall which is still mostly in ruins but can be seen as you walk along the pathway to the castle.
< more soon >
Updated Jun 25, 2009
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I did not get into this castle but took some pictures of it when we went to the national palace.
We also passed it on the way to pena palace with Circuito da Pena bus ticket.
This you can buy on bus 434 and stops Sintra Estacao, Sintra Vila, Castelo do Mouros and Palacio da Pena. We paid 4.50 euro for a return to Pena Palace ( Circuito da Pena)
The castle (fortress) was built in the 8th century by the Moors and was conquered by D. Afonso Henriques in 1147.
Flyer from tourist office in Sintra says
Opening hours 1st of may - 15th September from 10.00 - 20.00 last entry 19.00
admission 5 euro
guided tour 10 euro (with advance booking)
Lisboa card info says
1/5 - 15/9 open 9.30 - 20.00
16/9 - 30/4 open 10.00 - 18.00
Updated Jun 10, 2009
Phone: 21 923 73 00
Website: www.parquesdesintra.pt
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Write a ReviewI did not get into this castle but took some pictures of it when we went to the national palace.We also passed it on the way to pena palace with Circuito da...
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