Castelo de Castro Marim

Castle - Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman Period, Middle Ages e Modern Age (133)
Castro Marim's Castle is located on a circular hill, on the right bank of the Rio Guadiana, at about 42 m of altitude. This position allowed the castle to have a good view of their surroundings, permitting traffic control at the Guadiana's mouth. The evidence associated with the first occupation of the castle of Castro Marim (end of the Bronze era) is scarce, which limits its archaeological characterization. The settling that occurs during the Iron Age has more documentation and an extended time line (between the 7th century and the end of the 3rd century BC). From this stage, traces of buildings and compartments of rectangular/squared plan are identified, structured as streets, reflecting an urban planning of Mediterranean nature. The vast and diverse set of artefacts reflects intense relationships with the Mediterranean, with emphasis in the Western Phoenicia. Also occupied during Roman times, both Republican and Imperial, the castle was abandoned between the end of the 1st century and the beginning of the 2nd century AD. The castle itself, built in 1274, during the reign of D. Afonso III, within the framework of the Christian (re)conquest of the Algarve, displays a squared blueprint with four cylindrical towers and two access doors. Inside the Castle two cisterns were identified, the remnants of a chapel and compartments with diverse functionality. During the reign of D. Dinis (1279) records show the construction of the fence (also named Castelo de Fora), which surrounds the whole hill of Castro Marim's Castle, allowing the expansion and fortification of this city against the Kingdom of Castile. During the Portuguese Restoration War (reign of D. João IV) in the 17th century, the Castro Marim's Castle was restructured with the aim of strengthening its defensive characteristics, becoming the main stronghold of the Algarve. The castle was severely damaged by the earthquakes that occurred during the 18th century, especially the great earthquake of 1755, which led to the decrease of its commercial role and subsequent outflow of population.

Overview

The castle has an on-site museum centre and a ticket purchase is required.

Visit conditions

Entrance with admission ticket

Timetables

Open all days. Opening hours: From October 1st to March 31st 09.00 to 17.00 From April 1st to September 30th 09.00 to 19.00.

Contacts

  • Telefone: Novbaesuris EM SA: (+351) 281 510 160
  • Email: novbaesuris@cm-castromarim.pt
  • WWW: https://cm-castromarim.p
  • WWW: https://novbaesuris.cm-castromarim.pt

Documents

    How to get there? Best practices

    Best practices

    Good practices when visiting archaeological sites

    To visit an archaeological site is to connect with our origins, to understand our path and evolution as a species integrated in the environment, and to respect and safeguard our heritage so that future generations can also visit and enjoy it.

    Walking the paths and enjoying the structures and archaeological pieces that survived over time, fosters the understanding of what is different, but also of what is common among different populations: basically, what identifies us as Homo Sapiens.

    More than just vestiges and ruins of the past, archaeological sites showcase our capacity for creative thought, adaptation, interconnection, comprehension and resilience. Without these traits we would not have been successful as cultural beings participating in an ongoing evolutionary process. These sites also allow to consider choices made in the past thus contributing for decisions in the present to be made with greater awareness and knowledge.

    Archaeological sites are unique and irreplaceable. These sites are fragile resources vulnerable to changes driven by human development. The information they keep, if destroyed, can never be recovered again.

    As such, the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC) invites all visitors to enjoy the beauty and authenticity of these sites, while helping to preserve them for future generations by adopting the following set of good practices:

    • Respect all signs; 
    • Do not try to access fenced areas; 
    • Do not climb, sit or walk on archaeological structures and remains; 
    • Respect areas where archaeological excavations are being carried out, not disturbing them; 
    • Do not collect materials or sediments;
    • Do not write or make graffiti on archaeological structures; 
    • Put the garbage in appropriate containers. If none exist, take the garbage with you until you find a suitable container; 
    • Leave the archaeological site as you found it; 
    • Do not drive bicycles or motor vehicles over archaeological sites; 
    • Respect and protect the plants and animals that live in the areas surrounding archaeological sites;
    • Report signs of vandalism or destruction to DGPC or Regional Directorates of Culture (DRC);
    • Share the visiting experience and the archaeological sites, as a way of raising awareness to their preservation and making them better known;
    • Do not buy archaeological materials and report to public security authorities, DGPC or DRC, if you suspect that archaeological materials may be for sale.

    Further information:

    AIA / ATTA (2013) – Guide to best practices for archaeological tourism. 

    Raposo, J. (2016) – Código de conduta para uma visita responsável a sítios arqueológicos. In Sítios arqueológicos portugueses revisitados: 500 arqueossítios ou conjuntos em condições de fruição pública responsável. Al-madan, 2ª série, p. 20 – 77. 

    DGPC contacts

    Phone: +351213614200 | Email: informacaoarqueologica@dgpc.pt

     


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