Castlemap

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Castles in Portugal

200 landmarks in the Castlemap atlas — every one mapped with a photo and its story, 119 with sourced founding dates, ranked by Wikipedia coverage and real readership.

The most famous castle in Portugal is Belém Tower, ranked #36 of 7,738 in the world — followed by Pena Palace and Castle of Saint George.

The Castlemap atlas charts 131 castles, 38 fortresses, 23 palaces & châteaux and 8 ruins in Portugal. They span more than 26 centuries — from Castle of Alvor (founded c. 650 BC) to Palácio Angeja-Palmela (1977). Every one is plotted with its photo and story on the interactive castle map of Portugal.

Map of castles in Portugal

On the map they cluster thickest around Santarém — 63 within a 100 km day trip, then Vila Franca de Xira (53) and Évora (49). The northernmost is Castle of Melgaço, the southernmost Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição do Ilhéu — about 1,300 km apart.

Planning a visit? Day-trip guides: Castles near Lisbon · Castles near Sintra · Castles near Vila Franca de Xira · Castles near Torres Vedras · Castles near Santarém · Castles near Caldas da Rainha — and 12 more in the city index.

By region: Castles in the Alentejo.

See them on the map →

When they were built

Of the 200 landmarks mapped in Portugal, 119 carry a sourced founding date. Most were founded in the 17th century — 19 of them. 67 predate 1500 and 18 were built after 1700.

All 200 castles in Portugal

Frequently asked questions

How many castles are in Portugal?

The Castlemap atlas maps 200 landmarks (131 castles · 38 fortresses · 23 palaces & châteaux · 8 ruins) in Portugal — a curated selection of well-documented landmarks from Wikidata, not a count of every fortification ever built.

What is the most famous castle in Portugal?

Belém Tower, ranked #36 of 7,738 worldwide in the atlas's fame ranking, founded in the 16th century.

What is the oldest castle in Portugal?

The oldest dated landmark in the atlas in Portugal is Castle of Alvor, founded c. 650 BC. Earlier structures may have existed — this is the oldest with a documented founding year.

Where are most of the castles in Portugal?

They cluster thickest around Santarém — 63 of the atlas's landmarks within 100 km, then Vila Franca de Xira (53) and Évora (49).

Which castles in Portugal are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

Per Wikidata, 4 of the mapped landmarks hold a UNESCO World Heritage designation — inscribed in their own right or as part of an inscribed ensemble: Belém Tower, Palace of Mafra, Nossa Senhora da Graça Fort, Forte de Santa Luzia.

How many castles are there in Portugal?

See also: the most famous castle in every country · the oldest in every country · medieval castles · castle statistics.