Towering majestically over the city of Lis at its feet, Leiria's medieval castle sits atop a lush, steep hill, creating an enchanting marriage of architectural heritage and natural landscape.
The captivating history of Leiria Castle
In addition to its undeniable military role, this fortress beautifully houses a wing of King Dinis' former palace, as well as the remains of his Gothic church. The beginnings of this fortress, in the period before the foundation of Portugal, remain shrouded in mystery and oblivion, with few traces surviving to the present day.
In the context of the Reconquista wars of the 12th century, Leiria was a crucial strategic point in the defense of the southern frontier of the Condado Portucalense. Erected in a region of constant upheaval, the castle witnessed the daily clashes between Islam and the Christian world, marking the destiny of the villages south of the Mondego River.
Alfonso Henriques, then a young prince, conquered Leiria and its fortress at the expense of the Moors. In 1135, news of the fortress's construction broke. Unfortunately, two years later, the Almohads ruthlessly attacked the castle, forcing Paio Guterres, the knight leading the garrison, to abandon it after fierce resistance.
The castle changed hands twice before finally coming under Christian control at the dawn of Portuguese nationality. In 1144, the castle was restored and its garrison reinforced. At the same time, it was granted a charter and city status, confirmed by King Sanche I some 50 years later. The walls extended their protection to the new quarters of the Roman city.
During the Cortes of 1254, ordered by King Afonso III, the castle gained in importance. The royal residence underwent significant improvements during the reign of King Dinis, who chose it along with Queen Santa Isabel as one of their seasonal residences. Parts of the barbican and fortified enclosure, inherited from the Roman reforms of D. Sancho I, remain.
At its heart, the most robust and impressive core stands out from the point of view of military defense, with the mighty keep, the work of the period of King Dinis. Overlooking the city, the graceful Loggia do Paço Real stands out, composed of eight beautiful Gothic ogival arches, rebuilt in this century by the architect Ernesto Korrodi.
The Paço Real, with its three-storey central body flanked by arched turrets, reveals a clarity of form and grandeur of space inside. The walls, with their defensive towers, conceal another medieval treasure: the church of Nossa Senhora da Pena, a singular religious work in Tertiary Gothic style, with a simple ogival portal and imposing apse, bearing witness to its ribbed vaulted roof and choir side panels perforated with ogival lacunae topped with quadrifolia.
Leiria Castle stands as a living testimony to the history of the Portugala graceful blend of military strength and architectural splendor, offering an immersive experience of bygone eras in the heart of Lis.
