Visit Castelo dos Mouros
Table of Contents
Exploring Castelo dos Mouros in Sintra is an enchanting travel adventure that elevates your Sintra experience to something truly extraordinary. This stunning landmark captivates with its architecture and rich historical significance.
A journey to Castelo dos Mouros isn’t just a sightseeing excursion; it’s a deep dive into Portugal’s medieval past and culture. Dont’ miss your chance to discover this mesmerizing attraction, leaving a lasting impression.
Tourist Information
Castelo dos Mouros is not only a historic castle, but also a breathtaking landscape, imbued with an atmosphere of mysticism and grandeur. Situated on a hilltop in Sintra, it offers spectacular views of the Atlantic coastline.
Originally a Moorish castle, it occupied a key strategic position. Inside and around the castle walls was an ancient village, now known as the Islamic Quarter. Here you can see silos carved into the rocks that were used to store food, including grain.
The history of this place is rich and multi-layered. The Moors lived here until 1147, when the town was captured by the King of Portugal, and since then the castle has played an important role in the history of the region. With the arrival of the Christian population, the Moorish castle gradually became a medieval village, part of which was part of the church of São Pedro de Canaferrim.
In the 19th century, the castle was partially restored by King Ferdinand II in Romantic style. Archaeological excavations opened in 1976 helped to uncover new secrets of this historic site.
Castelo dos Mouros has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Under the management of Parques de Sintra, it continues to attract thousands of visitors and researchers, giving them the opportunity to immerse themselves in Portugal’s rich history and culture. An Archaeological Research Field was created in 2009. Together with the Moorish Castle Interpretation Center, located in the Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim, they give a deeper understanding of the historical significance of the site through a variety of interactive tools and archaeological finds.
Interesting Facts
Historical significance. The castle, built by the Moors in the 9th century, had strategic importance. Its location on top of a mountain provided a privileged view of the surrounding countryside, making it an important stronghold in defence.
As for the most interesting facts about the location, the main ones are listed below:
- Historical significance. The castle, built by the Moors in the 9th century, had strategic importance. Its location on top of a mountain provided a privileged view of the surrounding countryside, making it an important stronghold in defence.
- Architectural features. The castle’s structure included secret passages and a huge cistern, which was vital to provide water in case of siege. These characteristics made it a fortress of irresistible strength.
- Panoramic view. Due to its location on top of a mountain, the castle’s fortress walls offer magnificent panoramic views of Sintra, the Pena Palace, the National Palace of Sintra, the Biester Chalet and Quinta da Regaleira, as well as the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Tested by time. The castle suffered a fire caused by a lightning strike in 1636 and then the Great Earthquake of 1755, which destroyed much of the region. However, it was partially rebuilt a century later.
- Connection to other attractions. Both monuments are connected by a bus line, making it easy for tourists to access. They are also within walking distance of each other, making it possible to visit both places on the same day.
Popularity among tourists. The castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the region and is usually visited together with the Pena Palace to take Castelo dos Mouros photos.
Open Hours
Opening hours are from 09:30 a.m. to 20:00 p.m. during the spring/summer season and 10:00 to 18:00 during the fall/winter season. The last admission is one hour before closing. A typical visit takes from one hour to 90 minutes.
Tickets
Castelo dos Mouros tickets pricing policy is as follows:
- €12 for adults (18 to 64 years old);
- €10 for youth (6 to 17 years old);
- seniors (over 65 years old);
- €33 for a family ticket (2 adults + 2 teenagers).
Buying tickets online gives you a 15% discount.
Address
Address: Parque Des Monserrate Sintra 2710-405.
How to Get to Castelo dos Mouros
To get to the Moorish castle, which sits on top of the mountain, you can take bus 434, which leaves from the train station. It takes about 13 minutes, but as for hiking, the route will take about an hour. After seeing the castle, you can also visit the Pena Palace, which is nearby. To return to the center, follow the road for about 10 minutes or wait for bus 434. If you want to avoid the crowds of tourists, it is best to visit the castle in the morning and then walk down to Pena Castle, getting back by bus.
