# Castle of Carrazeda de Ansiães

- **Country:** Portugal
- **Coordinates:** 41.202758, -7.305542
- **Location Text:** (Lavandeira, Beira Grande e Selores, Carrazeda de Ansiães)

The Castle of Carrazeda de Ansiães, also known as the Castle of Ansiães, is a historic military installation located in the civil parish of Lavandeira within the municipality of Carrazeda de Ansiães, Portugal. Situated in the Bragança district of the Norte region, the structure rests on a small plateau between mountain ranges, sharing a strategic protected zone with the nearby Castle of Vila Flor. While the visible ruins are medieval in origin, the site possesses profound historical depth, with the earliest recorded remnants dating back to the Chalcolithic period around 3000 BCE. This ancient foundation later supported a Roman settlement that thrived until the area was sacked by northern barbarians in 409 CE, followed eventually by Muslim conquest in the 8th century.

Architecturally, the castle reflects its long evolution through various eras, constructed primarily from granite, mortar, wood, and iron. Although currently in a ruined state, the layout remains easy to reconstruct and features distinct medieval elements such as a keep tower, a rare small Traitors' Gate, remnants of barbicans along the defensive walls, and primitive cisterns that remain in relatively good condition despite being obstructed. The fortification was originally established to protect settlers near the borders of Christian kingdoms during the 11th century, serving as a crucial defensive point following periods of conflict between Leonese forces and Muslim occupants.

Today, the property is owned by the Portuguese Republic and is open to the public for visitation. It stands as a significant testament to the region's layered history, spanning from prehistoric times through Roman occupation, Islamic rule, and the medieval Reconquista. The site offers visitors a glimpse into the strategic military architecture of the Douro subregion, preserving the physical evidence of centuries of settlement and conflict on its windswept plateaus.

![Photo of Castle of Carrazeda de Ansiães](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Castelo_de_ansi%C3%A3es_%288337838751%29.jpg)

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