Castelo dos Mouros, Portugal - Sintra Castle

The Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors) also known as the Sintra Castle is a medieval castle located on a high hill overlooking the village of Sintra, Portugal. The castle was built by the Moors between the 9th and the 10th centuries or by some estimations already in the 8th century. In 1147 was the castle captured by King Alfonso Henriques without resistance of the Moorish garrison.



During the reign of Alfonso's son Sancho I (1185-1212) was the Castelo dos Mouros repaired. In the 15th century the castle began to decline and after it lost all military importance in the 16th century it was abandoned and fell into decay. In the 19th century was the Castelo dos Mouros renovated by King Ferdinand II and is today open to the public. In 1995 was the Castelo dos Mouros also inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage sites as part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra.