Castle of Guimarães, Portugal

The Castle of Guimarães is a medieval castle located in the city of Guimarães in Portugal. The castle was built in the 10th century by Dona Mumadona Dias. It primary function was at that time to defend its monastery from the Muslim and Norman attacks. In the 11th century the castle passed to Count Dom Henrique who extended it to its present size. He was married to Dona Teresa, the illegitimate daughter of Alfonso VI who gave birth to Alfonso Henriques, the later King of Portugal.



In 1128 Alfonso Henriques defeated the forces led by his mother Teresa of Leon and her lover Fernando Perez de Trava in the Battle of São Mamede and in the next year declared himself Prince of Portugal and in 1139 King of Portugal. The Castle of Guimarães became his residence served as a royal residence throughout the 11th and the 12th centuries. From the 13th to 15th century the Kings of Portugal continued with building activities but afterwards it lost its defensive function and was abandoned. The Castle of Guimarães fell into decline until 1910 when it was declared a national monument. Between 1937 and 1940 was the castle restored by the General Service for National Buildings and Monuments and is today opened to the public. In 2001 was the Castle of Guimarães also inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage sites as part of the Historic Centre of Guimarães.