Castle of Evoramonte
the public
The Castle of Evoramonte, alternately spelled Évora Monte or Évoramonte, (Portuguese: Castelo de Évora Monte/Castelo de Evoramonte) is a Portuguese castle in the civil parish of Evoramonte, municipality of Estremoz in the former district of Évora. Initiated in 1160, in the Gothic period, it was enlarged in later centuries in the Manueline style. It was at this site that the Concession of Evoramonte (or the Convention of Evoramonte) on was signed on 26 May 1834, that ended Liberal Wars between the Liberal forces of Queen Maria II of Portugal (under the regency of her father Peter VI of Portugal) and Absolutist armies of Miguel of Portugal.[1] Since 1910, it has been listed as a Portuguese National monument.
History
Sometime during the 12th century, the region of Évora Monte was conquered from the Moors by the forces of Geraldo Sem Pavor.[2][3] By 1248, a foral (charter) was issued to the region to provide incentives for settlement, which was reaffirmed in 1271.[2][3]
Around 1306, King Denis ordered the fortification of the town: it was at this time that construction of the castle began, that included the main structure, walls and gates.[2][3]
After the rise of John I of Portugal to the Portuguese throne, the castle and associated lands were given to the constable Nuno Álvares Pereira, who later passed them on to his grandson.
A new foral was issued in 1516, by King Manuel.[2][3] The reconstruction campaign during Manuel's reign, beginning in 1516, resulted in the fortification with four cylindrical towers defining the rectangular perimeter by Francisco de Arruda (completed in 1531).[3]
The 1531 Lisbon earthquake destroyed the keep tower of the medieval castle. This structure was then rebuilt by Teodósio I, Duke of Braganza, who, at that time, was master of the region and town.[2]
On 26 May 1834, the Concession of Evoramonte was signed between Miguel of Portugal and his brother Peter IV of Portugal, in the name of his daughter Maria da Glória, ending the Liberal Wars.[2]
In 1855 the municipality of Evoramonte was extinguished, and its historical administration divided into the neighbouring municipalities of Estremoz, Évora, Arraiolos and Redondo.[2][3]
Between 1930 and 1940, were the first public works to recuperate and renovate the grounds and castle of Evoramonte, under the supervision of the Direcção Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais (DGMEN).[2][3] These actions, which primarily occurred in 1937, included the restoration of the towers and the consolidation of the parapets.[2]
Subsequent interventions occurred between 1971-1979, in projects to restore the castle; 1980-1981, in the recuperation of the walls; in 1982, the construction of a sanitation system; followed in 1984 by new restoration projects, culminating in the phase two project in 1986 (which included construction and restoration accompanied with photography of the repairs).[2] Finally in 1987, electricity was installed on the grounds.[2]
On 1 June 1992, under Decree 106F/92, this building was transferred into the stewardship of the Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico (IPPAR), in order to rehabilitate and monetize the structure.[2]
February 2006, marked the beginning of commemorations to celebrate the castle's 700 years of existence.[2]
Architecture
The castle crowns the escarpment of Serra d' Ossa, with a commanding view of the local and distant routes, dominating one of the largest squares in Portugal: the municipality of Estremoz.[2]
An unusual rectangular building, the castle includes circular towers molded into the structure, providing the castle with an aggressive and powerful characteristics.[2] The building is much larger at the base, and is chamfered to the height of its three storeys, and crowned by large merlons. The three floors are clearly delineated by a ring-shaped cornice at each level, typical of the Manueline style, these cornices are sculpted into a rope, tied at the frontispiece of the structure.[2] At various places along the cylindrical towers are canon emplacements, narrower to the interior, that provide an image that is bellicose and somber.[2] On each storey there is a rectangular window, except on the ground floor exposed to the north, where a portico is fixed.[2]
In the large salon on the first floor, the vaulted ovular ceiling is supported by four columns, and raised into a mess of sculpted veins.[2] A similar lattice, though smaller, is used in the remaining floors. By the cylindrical towers in the west, a circular staircase provides access to successive floors.[2]
References
- Notes
- ^ David Birmingham (1993)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Branco, Manuel (1993), SIPA (ed.), Castelo de Évora Monte/Castelo de Evoramonte (PT040704040002) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA–Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, archived from the original on 13 August 2013, retrieved 28 December 2012
- ^ a b c d e f g IGESPAR, ed. (2011). "Castelo de Évoramonte" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: IGESPAR-Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- Sources
- Birmingham, David (1993), Portugal: A concise history, Cambridge University Press
- Espanca, Túlio (1962), "A Cerca e o Castelo de Évora Monte", A Cidade de Évora (in Portuguese)
- Espanca, Túlio (1966), Inventário Artístico de Portugal (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Distrito de Évora
- PINA, Maria do Carmo (1989), Évoramonte: A Fortaleza Monografia (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
External links
- Evoramonte Castle gallery at Fotopedia
- v
- t
- e
- Castle of Abrantes
- Castle of Alandroal
- Castle of Alcácer do Sal
- Castle of Alcanede
- Castle of Alcantarilha
- Castle of Alcobaça
- Castle of Alcoutim
- Castle of Alegrete
- Castle of Alenquer
- Castle of Alfaiates
- Castle of Alfândega da Fé
- Castle of Alfeizerão
- Castle of Algoso
- Castle of Aljezur
- Castle of Aljustrel
- Castle of Almada
- Castle of Almourol
- Castle of Alter do Chão
- Castle of Alter Pedroso
- Castle of Alva
- Castle of Alvito
- Castle of Alvor
- Castle of Amieira do Tejo
- Castle of Arraiolos
- Castle of Arronches
- Castle of Atouguia da Baleia
- Castle of Avis
- Castle of Avô
- Castle of Azinhalinho
- Castle of Balsamão
- Castle of Barbacena
- Porto Pim bartizan
- Castle of Beja
- Castle of Belmonte
- Castle of Belver
- Castle of Bemposta
- Castle of Borba
- Castle of Braga
- Castle of Bragança
- Castle of Caminha
- Castle of Campo Maior
- Castle of Carrazeda de Ansiães
- Castle of Castelo Bom
- Castle of Castelo Branco
- Castelo de Idanha-a-Velha
- Castelo de Longroiva
- Castelo de Montel
- Castelo de Montemor-o-Novo
- Castelo de Nisa
- Castelo de Oleiros
- Castelo de Palmela
- Castelo de Pirescoxe
- Castelo de Portuzelo
- Castelo de Ranhados
- Castelo de Sesimbra
- Castelo de Sines
- Castelo de Torre de Coelheiros
- Castelo de Torres Vedras
- Castelo de Veiros
- Castle of Castelo Melhor
- Castle of Castelo Mendo
- Castle of Castelo de Vide
- Castle of Castelo Rodrigo
- Castle Fortress of Almeida
- Castle of Castro Marim
- Castle of Celorico da Beira
- Castle of Chaves
- Castle of Cola
- Castle of Crato
- Castle of Curutelo
- Castle of Degebe
- Castle of Elvas
- Castle of Esporão
- Castle of Estremoz
- Castle of Evoramonte
- Castle of Faria
- Fernandine Walls of Porto
- Castle of Folgosinho
- Castle of Freixo de Espada-à-Cinta
- Castle of Freixo de Numão
- Castle of Geraldo
- Castle of Guarda
- Castle of Guimarães
- Castle of Idanha-a-Nova
- Castelo de Juromenha
- Castle of Lagos
- Castle of Lamego
- Castle of Lanhoso
- Castle of Leiria
- Castle of Linhares
- Castle of Loulé
- Castle of Lousa
- Castle of Lousã
- Castle of Marialva
- Castle of Marvão
- Castle of Mau Vizinho (Vila Real)
- Castle of Melgaço
- Castle of Mertola
- Castle of Messejana
- Castle of Miranda do Douro
- Castle of Mirandela
- Castle of Mogadouro
- Castle of Moinhos
- Castle of Monção
- Castle of Monforte (Chaves)
- Castle of Monforte (Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo)
- Castle of Monsanto
- Castelo de Monsaraz
- Montalegre Castle
- Castle of Montalvão
- Castle of Montemor-o-Velho
- Castle of the Moors
- Castle of Moreira de Rei
- Castle of Mós
- Castle of Moura
- Castle of Mourão
- Castle of Noudar
- Castle of Numão
- Castle of Óbidos
- Castle of Ouguela
- Castle of Ourém
- Castle of Ourique
- Castle of Outeiro
- Castle of Paderne
- Castle of Pena de Aguiar
- Castle of Penamacor
- Castle of Penas Róias
- Castle of Penedono
- Castle of Penela
- Castle of Pinhel
- Castle of Pombal
- Castle of Portalegre
- Castle of Portel
- Castelo de Porto de Mós
- Castle of Rebordãos
- Castle of Redondo
- Castle of Redondos
- Castle of Ródão
- Sabugal Castle
- Castle of Salir
- Castle of Santa Maria da Feira
- Castle of Santarém
- Castle of Santo Estêvão
- São Jorge Castle
- Castle of São Ramão
- Castle of Seda
- Castle of Senhora da Luz
- Castle of Sernancelhe
- Castle of Serpa
- Castle of Silves
- Castle of Sortelha
- Castle of Soure
- Castle of Tavira
- Castle of Terena
- Castelo de Tomar
- Castelo de Torre de Moncorvo
- Castle of Torres Novas
- Tower of Bera
- Tower of Ferreira de Aves
- Castle of Trancoso
- Castle of Valongo
- Castle of Viana do Alentejo
- Castle of Vidigueira
- Castle of Vidigueiras
- Castle of Vila Flor
- Castle of Vila Nova de Cerveira
- Castle of Vila Nova de Foz Côa
- Castle of Vila Verde dos Francos
- Castle of Vila Viçosa
- Castle of Vilar Maior
- Castle of Vinhais