High in the Sintra mountains, the Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros) was built in the 10th century, when the region was under Muslim rule.
Its location was important. From here, soldiers could watch over the Atlantic coast and the routes leading to Lisbon.
Today, the castle offers one of the most impressive walks in Sintra. Its stone walls follow the mountain ridge, passing between huge granite rocks. You can climb the towers and enjoy beautiful views of the historic town, Pena Palace and, on clear days, the Atlantic Ocean.
The castle was once home to a small community. Archaeologists have found the remains of an Islamic neighbourhood, including pits carved into the rock to store food.
After Sintra came under Portuguese rule in 1147, a Christian settlement developed here. Centuries later, King Ferdinand II restored parts of the old fortress.
VISITING THE CASTLE
The entrance costs €12, and I recommend spending around 1 to 1.5 hours exploring the walls and towers.
You can take bus 434 from Sintra train station or walk up through the forest using the Vila Sassetti trail. The walk takes around 45 minutes from the historic centre and is moderately challenging.
🇵🇹 PLANNING A TRIP TO PORTUGAL? 50% OFF ALL TRAVEL GUIDES!
I've created digital travel guides for Lisbon, Porto, Algarve and Madeira, with local recommendations, itineraries, practical tips and curated Google Maps lists.
I also have a Portugal Google Maps Pack with 29 curated lists, including all the lists from my four travel guides, plus 7 exclusive Portugal-wide lists covering restaurants, beaches, viewpoints, castles and much more.
Everything is ready to save and use directly on your phone.
Explore the guides and maps here:
www.portugaldigitalguides.com
0 comments