# Castle of Ourique

- **Country:** Portugal
- **Location Text:** (Ourique, Ourique)

The Castle of Ourique is a medieval fortification located in the civil parish of Ourique, within the municipality of the same name in the Beja District of Portugal's Alentejo region. Constructed primarily of masonry, the current structure dates largely to the 13th and 14th centuries when it was rebuilt under the orders of King Denis. This reconstruction likely took place over an ancient Romanized castro that had subsequently been occupied by Moorish forces. Following its renovation, the castle became a possession of the Order of São Tiago. The settlement received its first official charter in 1290, with a subsequent charter issued by King Manuel I in 1510, cementing its administrative importance during the medieval and early modern periods.

Historically, the site is famously linked to the legendary Battle of Ourique in 1139, where D. Afonso Henriques supposedly defeated a superior Moorish army, a pivotal event for the foundation of an independent Kingdom of Portugal. However, historical records indicate uncertainty regarding whether this specific battle actually occurred at the location of the present castle. Archaeological findings within the historic village nucleus include twenty-one medieval silos from the 14th century and stratified ceramic evidence documenting continuous settlement until the 18th century. In the mid-20th century, the remaining sections underwent restoration efforts. Part of the ancient wall was integrated into a viewpoint that now crowns the village's highest point, while other areas were adapted in 1960 to support a water reservoir and garden. Today, the site is owned by the Portuguese Republic and remains open to the public as a testament to the region's layered military and civic history.

![Photo of Castle of Ourique](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Ruinas_do_Castelo_de_Ourique_-_Album_Alentejano.png)

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