Castle of Linhares

About

Built onto a rocky slope, Linhares has likely been settled since the Iron Age, and was fortified by the original population. Thanks to its strategic position, the town was part of the Roman’s transport route between Guarda and Conímbriga. King Afonso Henriques reclaimed it from the Moors, and ordered the construction of an improved fortification. In the 13th century King Denis, made further improvements, such as the Clock Tower with its numerous crenellations. With the advent of gunpowder, what was once one of the region’s most important castles lost its defensive edge, and fell into disuse. Today, the ruins on the 809 meter high hilltop offer stupendous views of the medieval village below, and surrounding countryside.