Freemaps

Paderne Castle
Time Schedule
Winter: 1st and 3rd wednesday of the month from 10am to 1pm

Summer: every wednesday from 10am to 1pm



Paderne Castle, also known as Almóada Castle, is one of the 7 castles that appear on the Flag of Portugal, represented by the shields included in it.

This castle is in a dominant position on the Quarteira stream and has traces of the Roman occupation, in the mid-2nd century, which conquered a primitive Lusitanian fort and transformed it into a military fortress and a political and administrative center, called Paderne or Paderna. 

Between the 11th and the 12th century, in the last stage of the Muslim occupation of the Iberian peninsula, the fifth Moorish dynasty known as the Almohads, built this fort using rammed earth, with the main objective of establishing a second interior line of defense in the region of Albufeira, against the Christian attacks carried out in the period of the Reconquest or Holy War.

In 1189, King Sancho I, with the help of a squadron of English crusaders, retakes the domains for the Christian kingdoms, possession that lasted only two years, at which time Paderne Castle was invaded again by the Almohad army.

This important castle was conquered from the Moors by D. Paio Peres Correia in 1248, by sovereign mandate of D. Afonso III, having thus been definitively recovered for the Portuguese Crown.
Around the 14th century, King D. Dinis handed over the Paderne Castle, the village and the patronage of its church as a donation to the Order of Avis, performing in the position of Master D. Lourenço Anes.

From the 16th century onwards, the castle was abandoned as it lost its strategic importance, entering into progressive decay, worsening with the earthquake of 1755, which contributed to the degradation of its structure, particularly in the keep.

Despite the many restorations and its state of conservation is bad, with only some remains of the wall as well as the entrance tower and walls of its chapel.

The castle is only open for visits on Wednesdays, but you can explore the site and its surroundings on the remaining days.

Near the castle there's a roman bridge that we also suggest a visit, location here https://goo.gl/maps/hEGFrMZ7QVNn8zc5A

The area is also perfect for hiking or mountain biking, enjoy it!

Contacts

City / Postal-code
Paderne

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