Moorish Castle

The Moorish Castle is a privileged viewpoint to admire the view extending from Sintra to the ocean. Winding across two ridges on the Sintra Mountains, the castle dates back to the early days of Moorish occupation in the Iberian peninsula, in the 8th century.

After the conquest of Santarém, King Afonso Henriques sieged Lisbon for three months.

Although Sintra’s Castle was surrendered voluntarily after the fall of Lisbon, legend has it that the sovereign entrusted Don Gil, a Knight Templar, with assembling twenty trusted men to secretly observe the enemy's movements in Sintra, in fear of a surprise attack on his forces by the Sintra Moors, and simultaneously preventing the Lisbon Moors from heading up the River Tagus into Sintra, via Cascais.

The crusaders set out in secret, under the cover of night and hiding out during the day, to avoid being sighted along the road from Torres Vedras to Santa Cruz, and along the coast to Colares, avoiding Albernoz, a feared Moorish chief from Colares who was infamous for killings Christians. Somewhere between Colares and Penedo, the Virgin Mary appeared to the fearful knights and said to them: "Não tenhais medo porque ides vinte, mas mil ides” ["Do not be afraid, there are twenty of you, but you are worth one thousand"].

Full of courage with the Virgin Mary on their side, at the end of five day journey, they took on the enemy, defeating them and conquering the Moorish Castle. In honour of this victory, the Chapel of Our Lady of Milides ("mil ides") [“worth one thousand”] was erected in Colares.

One of the few examples of military architecture in Sintra, the origins of the so-called Moorish Castle are not yet fully understood. Researchers have put forward several theories. Some argue that it may have originated in the 7th cent., under Visigoth domination. The main fact supporting this theory is the apparatus used to construct the walls. However, most researchers believe the fortress was founded in the 8th or 9th century, in this case dating it to the Moorish period.

Strategically built atop one of the highest peaks on the hill range, the castle stood noble and splendid on an large granite outcrop, which acted as an insurmountable natural defence to the north.

Structurally, the fortification has a double curtain wall (the outer wall is now partially destroyed). Its irregular layout covers approximately 12 000 m2. Inside, we can find the ruins of structures for storing cereals, stables, and a rectangular cistern, 18 meters long by 6 meters wide. At the northernmost end, concealed in the curtain wall among brambles and other vegetation, lies the famous Gate of Betrayal.

For some centuries, lack of maintenance allowed the curtain wall to be taken over by trees and bushes, and even to collapse in places. Shepherds and cattle became the attentive guards of the rundown old fortress. However, the turn of 19th century, with the arrival of Romantic Aesthetics, brought a change of fortune for the "Moorish Castle".

Once again, the sensitive, enlightened spirit of King Fernando II was of vital importance, in the recovery of the castle. The ruined architectural nooks covered by native vegetation were much appreciated during this period.

However, King Fernando II was determined not to let what little was left of the fortress disappear. Thus, around the middle of the century, he instructed Baron von Eschewege to proceed with the restoration and consolidation of the curtain walls and towers, returning the silhouette of the "Moorish Castle" to the Luxurious Sintra landscape.

The Artist King ordered the entire area surrounding the walls forested on both sides. Today, about one hundred and fifty years later, we are delighted and left breathless at the sight of the green, brown, orange, and yellow hues of the deciduous leaves.

Moorish Castle

The Moorish Castle is situated 3.5 km from the historical centre of Sintra. It is open every day of the year, except for Christmas Day (25 December) and 1 January. From April to September it is open from 9.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (last entry at 7 p.m.) and from October to March from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entry at 5 p.m.)

In order to get there, there are signs from the historical centre for motorists, as well as for the route on foot. There is a bus (434) from Sintra railway station which does the Pena Circuit and passes by the Moorish Castle.

Lisbon > Sintra

By train  (CP) – Take the Sintra Line

Departure stations:
• Estação do Oriente
• Estação do Rossio
• Estação de Entrecampos

By car

If driving to Sintra, take the IC19 (from Lisbon), IC30 (from Mafra) or EN9 (turning off the A5 motorway to Cascais).
When you arrive in the town’s historic centre, you’ll see a vertical sign showing the way to the Moorish Castle (3.5 km).

Sintra (historic centre) > Moorish Castle

By bus (Scotturb)

• Sintra Station – Pena Circuit
  From Sintra, take Scotturb bus No. 434, which runs from the railway station to the Moorish Castle.

On foot
There are footpaths signposted between the historic centre and the Moorish Castle.

• Footpaths
  Percurso de Santa Maria (Casa INFO > Moorish Castle/Pena; 1770 metres, 1 hour)
  Percurso de Seteais (Seteais > Pena/Moorish Castle; 2410 metres, 1½ hours)

Estrada da Pena
2710-609 Sintra
Tel.: 21 923 73 00
Fax. 21 9237350
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.parquesdesintra.pt
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Site: www.parquesdesintra.pt