Guimarães Castle, located on Monte Largo, evokes the mixture of legend and heroism that involves the beginning of the History of Portugal.

History

Mumadona, Galician countess, had a castle built here, around 968, where the population could take refuge from the constant assaults of hordes of Vikings, coming from the seas of northern Europe and Muslims who flocked from the territories they occupied to the south.

The military history of the foundation of the kingdom is linked to the castle in the various combats in which Afonso Henriques faced in 1127 his cousin Afonso VII, king of Leão of the infant word when he, seeing that he was unable to overcome the siege of Afonso VII, promised to become his vassal, having reneged on the promise on winning.

Until the end of the century XIV in the Castle of Guimarães heroic battles took place to defend the integrity of the young kingdom of Portugal, shaken by dynastic issues with Castile that made its independence vulnerable.

With the birth of the new artillery weapons, the Castle of Guimarães, like so many others, experienced the beginning of the end of its glories.

Abandoned to the neglect of time and men, it came to be carefully restored to its original grandeur and beauty, in the first half of the century XX.

Guimarães

Guimarães is considered the birthplace of Portugal because Afonso Henriques was born here and would become the first king of Portugal.

I hope you enjoyed this new trip!!!
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