Castle of Vila Verde dos Francos
| Castle of Vila Verde dos Francos (Castelo de Vila Verde dos Francos) | |
| Castle (Castelo) | |
| Official name: Castelo de Vila Verde dos Francos | |
| Named for: Vila Verde dos Francos | |
| Country |  |
|---|---|
| Region | Centro |
| Subregion | Oeste |
| District | Lisbon |
| Municipality | Alenquer, Portugal |
| Location | Vila Verde dos Francos |
| - coordinates | 39°9′25.3″N 9°7′19.2″W / 39.157028°N 9.122000°WCoordinates: 39°9′25.3″N 9°7′19.2″W / 39.157028°N 9.122000°W |
| Style | Medieval |
| Materials | Limestone, Mixtum vittatum |
| Owner | Portuguese Republic |
| For public | Public |
| Easiest access | Vila Verde dos Francos |
| Management | Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico |
| Status | Property of Public Interest Imóvel de Interesse Público |
| Listing | Decree 41/191, Diário do Governo, Série 1, 162 (18 July 1957) |
The Castle of Vila Verde dos Francos (Portuguese: Castelo de Vila Verde dos Francos) is a ruined medieval castle located in the civil parish of Vila Verde dos Francos, in the municipality of Alenquer, Portuguese district of Lisbon.
History
The early human occupation of the region dates back to prehistory; as archaeological evidence suggest, the region was visited and settled by successive centuries of Greek, Phoenician, Carthaginian, Roman, Goth and Muslim peoples.[1]
In 1160, D. Afonso Henriques donated Vila Verde dos Francos to D. Alardo, a French Captain and group of Crusaders, in recognition for their support in conquering Lisbon, Sintra, Almada, Palmela and Alenquer.[1] Tradition suggests that D. Alardo was responsible for constructing the castle, following the Henriques issuing a Foral (charter).[1]
By the middle of the 18th century, there was already evidence that the castle was in ruins.[1]
Much of the landscape was inundated with wild blackberries, necessitating the need to clear the terrain, consolidate masonry and reposition some stones.[1]
The walls were further consolidated in 1987. At that time, researcher Jorge Peixoto, identified the compact structure as a chapel, dedicated to Sõa Luís.[1]
Architecture
The building is situated in an isolated rural area, implanted at the top of a small hill of outcrops, near the settlement, surrounded by agricultural fields and vineyards.[1]
There remains several lines of foundation walls, forming an irregular plan.[1] On the extremes are the remnants of rectangular towers with an entranceway along the lower part of the walls.[1] On the opposite extreme, is a construction that could have resulted from the curvilinear segment of the wall, now in advanced state of ruin.[1] Its general advance state of ruin makes it impossible to reconstitute its typology.[1]
References
Notes
Sources
- Peixoto, Jorge (15 February 1987), "Vila Verde de Francos foi terra de Judeus, mouros e cruzados. Memoria viva da história votada ao abandono", Diário de Noticias (in Portuguese), p. 16
- Melo, António de Oliveira; Guapo, António Rodrigues; Martins, José Eduardo (1989), O Concelho de Alenquer. Subsídios para um Roteiro de Arte e Etnografia (in Portuguese), 1, Alenquer, Portugal