Castelo de Penedono

The Castle of Penedono (Portuguese: Castelo de Penedono) is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Penedono e Granja, in the municipality of Penedono, Portuguese district of Viseu.

The castle of Penedono was one fortresses referred in the donation of D. Flâmula (or Chamôa Rodrigues) to the Monastery of Guimarães (on 11 June 960); it was mentioned part of the properties inherited from her mother, D. Leodegúndia Dias, the daughter of Count Diogo Fernandes and his wife D. Oreca. At the time of testament, the document had recommended the sale of the structure, in order for its monies to be used to help pay the ransom of captives, support pilgrims and assist monasteries. The donation had the effect of securing an important strategic point and organizational linchpin of the Beira Alta Interior region. Nothing is recorded of the original configuration of the redoubt.

The oldest documented records date from the early Christian Reconquest of the area from the Moors; there is a reference to the area being repopulated after the victory of Ramiro II of León over the Moorish forces at the Battle of Simancas, in 939 AD. Penedono remained a border castle for several years, but in 987, it was reconquered by armies of Almanzor. The castle was retaken from the Moors by forces loyal to Ferdinand I of León between 1055 and 1057. The defense of the territory was then entrusted to Rodrigo Tedoniz, who set about the reconstruction of the castle. By 1059, though, it was already in the possession of the Monastery of São Salvador de Guimarães.

In 1195, in order to improve the strategic position of the border territory, King D. Sancho I conceded the region's first Foral (charter) to Pena de Domus, the medieval designation for the burgh. This foral was confirmed in 1217, by King D. Afonso II.

By the end of the 14th century, D. Fernando donated Penedono to Trancoso, whose signeurs wanted to tear down the castle. The senior residents of Penedono petitioned the King to stop this intention and to return the municipality to its status. At that time, Penedono disputed with Trancoso being the birthplace of the legendary knight Magriço.

The castle was partially rebuilt over the existing structures, under the initiative of D. Vasco Fernandes Coutinho, to whom D. Fernando donated the castle.

Text adapted from “Castle of Penedono” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Castelo de Penedono ranks #5,496 of 8,134 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #88 of the 205 mapped in Portugal. 6 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Vila Real, 45 km away. See how Portugal compares in the castle statistics.

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