# Castle of Barbacena

- **Country:** Portugal
- **Coordinates:** 38.960278, -7.293611
- **Location Text:** (Barbacena e Vila Fernando, Elvas)

The Castle of Barbacena is a medieval fortification located in the civil parish of Barbacena e Vila Fernando, within the municipality of Elvas in the Portalegre district of Portugal's Alto Alentejo region. Originally established on a site that may have housed a pre-Roman castro, the settlement was definitively reconquered by King Sancho II in the first half of the 13th century. The current stone and masonry structures largely date to the 15th century, following a period of decline that prompted King Manuel I to order significant reconstruction efforts in 1519. This royal intervention included the issuance of a new foral, or charter, which formalized the town's status and initiated the rebuilding of the defensive walls and castle that had fallen into disrepair.

Historically, the site holds considerable significance due to its strategic role during the Reconquista and its connection to prominent noble families. After its initial conquest, the territory was granted to D. Estêvão Anes, chancellor to King Afonso III, who issued the first local charter in 1273. During the reign of King John I, ownership shifted between partisan noblemen, eventually settling with Martim Afonso de Melo, a loyal bodyguard to the monarch, after his rival was stripped of titles for treason. By 1536, the estate had become a morgadio, a hereditary trust, under D. Jorge Henriques, further cementing its place in the Portuguese aristocratic landscape.

Today, the Castle of Barbacena is classified as a Property of Public Interest by the Portuguese government, recognizing its architectural and historical value. Although the structure incorporates traditional materials such as wood, tile, and calcium oxide alongside its primary stone construction, it stands as a testament to the region's military evolution. The site is currently owned by the Portuguese Republic but operated privately, remaining open to the public for visitation. It serves as an enduring landmark of the Alentejo, offering visitors insight into the medieval defensive strategies and noble histories that shaped this border region.

![Photo of Castle of Barbacena](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Castelo%20de%20Barbacena%20%28muralha%29.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelo_de_Barbacena (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)