Lisbon - St George's Castle

(Local Name: Castelo de Sao Jorge) The Castelo de Sao Jorge stands above the center of Lisbon to the east and is clearly visible from a long way off. The origins of this former fortress date back to an Iron Age settlement on this site, which was occupied by the Romans in about 205 B.C. The 110m/361ft high hill on which the castle stands also constitutes the central starting point of Lisbon's development.

Later the castle was used as a fortress by both the West Goths and then finally by the Arabs. After its capture by Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques, in 1147 it was renovated and extended several times. It gained its present name in honor of the dragon killing St George, Portugal's patron saint. Part of the complex was converted into a royal palace in about 1300 and the kings of Portugal resided here until 1511. Until this time the castle and the area surrounding it had for centuries been the center of all events owing to the location. At the beginning of the 16th C. Gil Vicente, goldsmith and poet, staged his "Monologue of a Cowherd" here and thus laid the basis of Portuguese theater. After his voyage to India, Vasco de Gama was received at the castle by King Manuel I.

In 1511 Manuel I moved into his newly built residence on the present day Praça do Comércio, then named after the royal palace Terreiro do Paço, and from then on events shifted themselves increasingly directly to the bank of the Tagus. Thus the Castelo de Sao Jorge lost its former importance; only Dom Sebastiao, the "longed for", who has been well nigh forgotten until now, resided here once more for a short time before he set off for Alcácer Quibir in 1578.

After 1640 the complex was used as a prison and an ordnance depot. The earthquake of 1755 almost completely destroyed the walls of the buildings. It was not until the 20th C. that the castle was rebuilt as present day visitors see it. Early photographs of the town show a completely different picture of the castle.

Between 1938 and 1944, under Salazar's rule, the whole castle complex was restored. In doing this more attention was paid to historical authenticity than to the resurrection of national history. Thus a very fine and varied reconstruction has arisen. The heart of the complex is a wall with ten massive towers, which can be climbed and which offer a fine view of the city.

Within the inner courtyard of the castle ruins a small park with water courses and with some animal enclosures has been laid out. Peacocks sit in the old trees or walk along the paths, here and there there are quiet corners in which little fountains babble.

A restaurant has been opened in one part of the former royal residence and in addition a Gothic hall has been reconstructed.

On the north side of the castle is the Martim Moniz Gate, named after a knight who, in 1147 at the risk of his own life, kept it open to facilitate access for the troops of Afonso Henriques.

The ascent to the Castelo de Sao Jorge is worthwhile purely for the view it affords over the city. A fine prospect of the whole of the inner city can be enjoyed from the large tree filled square at the entrance. To the southwest we look across the Tagus to the Monumento Cristo Rei on the opposite bank. The Atlantic can be seen behind the Ponte 25 de Abril and on clear days the Padrao dos Descombrimentos and the Torre de Belém are visible in the distance. A tile picture shows the exact locations and helps with orientation.