The Castle of Óbidos
The Middle Age Castle • It was built during the Muslim period, 8th century and conquered by the 1st Portuguese king D. Afonso Henriques. • It has got elements of the Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline and Baroque styles, spread in two main areas: the castle and the inside walls’ area.
• The perimeter of the walls reaches 1,565 meters, completely covered by a parapet with crenels and merlons. • In some places, the walls are 13 meters high.
The Legend of the castle of Ă“bidos
After D. Afonso Henriques conquered Lisbon and Santarém to the Moors, he decided to conquer Óbidos knowing that it would not be easy. The Castle of Óbidos was well protected by Muslims’ warriors.
The siege of the castle lasted for months but, one fine day, one of the commanders who accompanied the king prepared a strategy. His name was Gonçalo Mendes da Maia, well known as “The Lidadorâ€? (leader).
While the king attacked from the front, calling the attention of the Moors, a group of warriors crawled behind some bushes, approached the door that someone, betraying the Moors, left open.
They entered in surprise, attacking treacherously the Moors, action that allowed D. Afonso to take the fortress. Therefore, the door was called "the door of betrayal".
Group Work Research, text and drawings by Marta Nunes, Mariana Ventura and Leonardo Rocha, Class 5 A, Portugal
HGP Teacher: Leonor Victorino