Estremoz is a beautiful city in Alentejo, to the South of Portugal.
It is often referred to as the ‘white city’ partly due to all the lovely white houses spread out over the hill, and also due to its stunning white marble, which made the area known all over the world!
Estremoz castle is seen as one of the special features of the city.
Below are some of the details about this castle and why we think it is worth a visit:
History of Estremoz Castle
Located in the historic centre of Estremoz, this castle’s construction originates from the 13th century during the reigns of King Alfonso III and King Dinis. It was originally built for Queen Santa Isabel. It only became under Portuguese occupation following the ruling of King Sancho II – he ordered reconstruction works during his reign, which were then continued by subsequent rulers.
The stand out feature of this castle is the 27 metres tall Torre das Trȇs Coroas (Tower of the three crowns), named such due to its construction taking place during the three aforementioned kings’ reigns. It truly is a beauty, made out of the stunning white marble that the area has become so well known for.
There is an overlook on top of the castle, from which you can get a fantastic view looking over all the cities within the Alentejo region.
The castle features an interesting pentagonal floor design and there’s a stunning, well-maintained courtyard to be found on the grounds, with plenty of tables and chairs where you can stop for a rest if needed.
There is also a little chapel to be found, which is where the queen’s royal chambers would have once been. It is a small chapel with just a single nave, but it does have lovely tiled panels and beautiful oil paintings from the 18th century, that depict details from her life and many of the miracles that have been associated with her over the years.
During 1976 and 1969, the castle actually suffered an intervention and as such, it is actually now a luxury, historical hotel! But don’t worry, you don’t need to be staying at the hotel in order to enjoy the remains of the old castle – they are open to anyone!
Accessibility and Costs
The castle is situated atop quite a few stairs that can make for a steep climb. Access may, unfortunately, then be difficult for some.
It is completely free to enter and view the castle and take advantage of the stunning views over the Alentejo area.
On Tuesdays, it is only open to the public in the afternoons, from 2 pm to 5 pm. Wednesday to Sunday, it is open to the public from 9 am to 1 pm, then from 2 pm to 5 pm. It is worth noting that it remains closed to the public on the last weekend of every month – so don’t attempt to visit then!
Estremoz as a city is pretty hilly and the castle itself is situated on top of the hill – it is this that gives it its incredible views. This does mean you do need to be prepared for a lot of walking around the area and a steep climb to the castle itself.
With the castle now being a hotel, there is a good car park at it. So another option may be to hire a car or take a taxi if the climb does become a bit too much.
Perhaps the option of staying right on the castle grounds in the luxury hotel intrigues you and if so, you can find out more details about the hotel and its costs by going to the following website: https://www.pousadas.pt/uk/hotel/pousada-estremoz?gclid=CjwKCAiApfeQBhAUEiwA7K_UH6Mq61On1LUP1Ph-UE2V47UBwK238xkThfg1IgsEdN1zwFd_THLdJxoCCpoQAvD_BwE
Even if you do not plan to stay at the hotel itself, it does have a handy directions feature, so if you are perhaps travelling into Estremoz to visit the castle and need directions, this offers them to you, regardless of whether you’re travelling by car, walking or public transport!
It really is a fascinating example of a medieval castle, made even more interesting by it having been turned into a hotel.
I’d recommend it for the most beautiful marble tower I’ve ever seen and the stunning views over Alentejo!
If you enjoyed this article you might also like to read about Castle of Loulé and Castle of Alvor
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