Castle of Alandroal

Alandroal, Portugal, Portugal

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Castle of Alandroal in Alandroal, Portugal, is a well-preserved Gothic medieval fortress built between 1294 and 1298 under King Dinis I by Master Lourenço Afonso of the Order of Aviz, with contributions from builder Mouro Galvo, as noted in inscriptions on its towers.

Featuring an oval plan with thick walls enclosing a small historic neighborhood, it includes a robust quadrangular keep tower, four angular towers, and the main Porta Legal gate flanked by advanced quadrangular turrets topped by pyramidal battlements, blending Gothic and Mudéjar Islamic architectural influences.

Adjacent to the keep stands the Church of Nossa Senhora da Graça, later modified with Renaissance elements and a clock tower, while the site endured partial ruin by the 17th century before 1940s restorations cleared encroachments and rebuilt sections.

Designated a National Monument in 1910, it anchors Alandroal's skyline amid the Alentejo plains, offering visitors a glimpse into frontier defense history and simple urban planning along a single ancient street.