Perhaps, if we talk about what the heart of Lisbon is, then this is undoubtedly the castle of St. George (Castelo de São Jorge). The fortress from which the history of the city began. The reward for climbing the steep and narrow streets is the mesmerizing views from St. George's Castle. You can walk along the thick walls of the castle, you can see the silver thread of the Tagus, and the ocean of Lisbon's tiled roofs.
It is difficult to say who was the first to notice such a strategic location of the hill at the mouth of the Tagus River. Some of the archaeological finds indicate that already in the 7th century BC. people lived here. The first defensive structures appeared during the Roman Empire. Evidence has been preserved that during the war between the Romans and the Lusitanians, a protective wall surrounded the hill.
In the 8th century, the Arabs expanded the Roman wall and built the Alkasar citadel. The castle was protected by a fortress wall, around which there was a moat. It was possible to get inside through the bridge.
For greater protection, another 1250 m long wall is being built around the city, with six arched gates - Cerca Velha (Old Wall).
Several fragments have survived to this day. One of which you can see in the patio of Pátio D. Fradique in Alfama, the other next to the observation deck of Portas do Sol, this fragment served as the foundation for the church.
The Moorish fortification did not prevent the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, from besieging the castle in 1147. For four months, the Portuguese tried to recapture the castle from the Moors. The king's army consisted of 27 thousand people, of which 13 thousand were crusaders heading for the Holy Land.
According to legend, the crusaders captured the castle of St. George thanks to the feat of the knight Martim Moniz, who valiantly gave his life for the victory of his king. You can see the panel depicting this moment on the wall of the church, on the observation deck of Santa Luzia.
In 1255, Lisbon becomes the capital of Portugal, and the fortress becomes the royal residence of Afonso III. At the beginning of the 14th century, King Dinis I rebuilt the ascetic Moorish fortress into the Alcáçova Palace. In the Middle Ages, in 1375, on the orders of King Don Fernando, another belt of fortifications was erected around the overgrown Lisbon.
Construction lasted two years. The walls served to protect against attacks and robberies by the army of the Castilian king Don Enrique. And the city withstood several sieges by persistent Castilians. The 5400 meters long wall with 77 towers was called Cerca Fernandina or simply New Wall (Cerca Nova).
At the end of the XIV century, Juan first marries the English princess Felipe Lancaster. At the same time, the castle was given a Christian name in honor of St. George, the patron saint of knights. In the Torre de Ulisses tower, or as it was called under Fernando III - Torre do Tombo, today there is a camera obscura, where panoramas of Lisbon are projected (sessions are held in several languages - English, French, Spanish). And in those distant times there was an archive where the most important royal documents were kept.
From that moment began the golden age of Portugal. It was at this time that the legendary monastery of Jeronimos was built, as well as the huge royal palace of Ribeira, where today the Terreiro do Paço (the old name is Praça do Comércio) is located.
The royal court leaves the walls of the fortress and moves to comfortable apartments on the banks of the Tagus. Gradually, the castle of St. George is losing its importance, the earthquake of 1531, which damaged the castle, only accelerated this process.
The young romantic-minded King Sebastian wanted to restore the former meaning of the castle and even ordered restoration work to be carried out. But he never returned from the battlefield, exactly at that time Portugal fell under the yoke of the Spaniards, who set up barracks and a prison within the walls of the castle.
The castle of St. George, which had fallen into disrepair, was not spared by the earthquake of 1755. It destroyed most of the buildings of the fortress, including the fortress walls.
Those fragments that have survived - "grown into the city." The former gates became arches in Alfama, and parts of the fortified wall served as the basis for new buildings, for example, today part of the Fernandina wall can be seen inside the Espaço Chiado commercial center.
At the end of the 18th century, the citadel housed the charitable organization Casa Pia, which taught poor orphans. On the ruins of the fortress, local residents erect all kinds of buildings: temporary huts, warehouses, storerooms.
On June 16, 1910, a few months before the overthrow of the monarchy in Portugal, the last king, Don Manuel II, issues a law on the classification of a national treasure, one of the first to include the castle of St. George.
And only in 1938, by order of Salazar, the restoration of the area began. The entire "remake" is demolished, the walls of the castle are restored, archaeological excavations are started, gardens are laid out and monuments to the kings are erected. What we see with you today is the skillfully restored walls of the once great fortress.
- Address: 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal
- Telephone:+351 218 800 620
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost of visiting: $6,17
Saint George's Castle sits right on top of the highest of the seven hills in Alfama above the old Moorish quarter. The castle is clearly visible from afar. It is famous for its panoramic views of the city and the surrounding area of the capital. Behind you can see the Atlantic Ocean, and on clear days you can see in the distance and.
History of the Portuguese castle
The oldest parts of the fortress buildings date back to the 6th century, when it was founded by the Romans, then completed by the Visigoths, and later by the Moors. The castle served as the residence of the Moorish kings until 1147, when it was conquered by Afonso Henriques, the first king, with the active participation of the British crusader knights in the second Christian crusade. In honor of St. George, the patron saint of England, the castle was named. The palace became the residence of the kings of Portugal and performed this function until the construction of the Ribeira Palace in the 16th century. One of the chambers of the palace was reserved for Vasco da Gama during his stay in Lisbon after returning from sea voyages.
After the transition of Portugal to the rule of the Crown of Spain in 1580, the fortress of St. George in Lisbon acquired a military-defensive character, which was maintained until the beginning of the 20th century. After an earthquake in 1755, many new structures appeared on the site of the old ruins. Restoration work carried out in 1938-40 reopened the fortress and the remains of the old royal palace.
St. George's Castle today
The castle complex, surrounded by the citadel, consists of the castle itself, the royal palace and several other buildings, gardens and a terraced area. The main entrance to the citadel (19th century gate) leads to the main square (Praça d "Armas), which is decorated with old cannons and a bronze statue of Afonso Henriques. The medieval Moorish castle with its 10 towers is located on the highest point of the hill. Wall with a tower and a connecting door divides the castle courtyard in half, and stairs allow visitors to reach the walkway on the wall and towers, from where a magnificent view of Lisbon opens.
Open to the public 7 days a week, Saint George's Castle is now Lisbon's most popular tourist attraction, where you can visit:
Features of the visit
Opening hours of the Castle of Saint George in Lisbon.
Castle of St. George (Castelo de S.Jorge) located on one of the seven famous hills of Lisbon and looks at the city from a height. Thanks to its exceptional location, Saint George's Castle stands out from other attractions in Lisbon with its unique and magnificent scenery. 
View from the castle to the city 
It is a national monument, located on the territory of an ancient medieval fortress (alcacova) and consisting of a castle, the ruins of a former royal palace and part of a rich residential area. From this fortress the city originates the time of the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques.
This fortification was built in the middle of the 11th century, during the Moorish period, and is located in the most inaccessible place on the territory of present-day Lisbon - on top of a hill that has a natural steepness in the north and west. The purpose of the construction of the castle was to accommodate military detachments in it, as well as shelter in case of a siege of representatives of the upper class who lived in the fortress.
Unlike most European castles, this palace was not supposed to function as a residence. 
At the moment, 11 towers have been preserved, the most prominent of which are:
— main tower(Torre de Menagem)
It was the most important and reliable tower of the castle. It was built in such a way as to continue to withstand the most powerful attacks, and therefore was used as the most important command post. It was over this tower that the royal standard developed as a symbol of the vassal dependence of the alcalde (Moorish ruler) or royal manager, who was given the right to own the fortress and defend it. The first geodetic observatory in Lisbon was established in this tower in the 18th century. 
— Treasury Tower or Archive Tower(Torre do Haver ou do Tombo)
Initially, it kept the royal wealth (tax revenues and royal rent), later - the royal archive, it was located here until the earthquake of 1755.
Since 1998, the Treasury Tower has housed Pinhole camera- a curious device with which you can see the sights of Lisbon. The camera obscura is an optical system of lenses and mirrors that provides a real-time panoramic view of the entire city, including monuments, the most important squares, the river and everyday life in Lisbon. If you are visiting the castle with a child on a sunny day, be sure to check it out! 
— palace tower(Torre do Paco)
It got its name due to its proximity to the former Royal Palace. In the 15th century, during the reign of King Don Afonso V the African, the tower was connected to a wing of the palace, known as the "lion's house", in which two lions were kept. 
— tank tower(Torre da Cisterna)
It was nicknamed so because of the tank, which was used to collect and store rainwater.
— Saint Lawrence Tower(Torre de Sao Lourenco)
The tower, located on a hillside, was connected to the castle by means of a covered passage, which was a feature characteristic of the military architecture of the peninsula during the Moorish period. This provided safe access to the well located outside the castle, as well as quick access to the outer part of the fortress in the event of an attack, retreat, or the arrival of reinforcements and resupply.
All towers are on the slopes of the hill. The ruins of older buildings and a reservoir are preserved in the second courtyard.
In the north wall, a small door can be seen, called the Door of Betrayal, as it allowed secret messengers to enter and exit discreetly when necessary.
Three flights of steps leading to the tops of the walls provide access to the towers and bastions, one of which is in the first courtyard and the other two in the second.
Official Information
Site http://castelodesaojorge.pt/
Getting there: by bus 37, trams 12, 28
Open daily (except holidays December 25, January 1, May 1). Opening hours 9.00-21.00 (in winter until 18.00)
Ulysses Tower and Periscope 10.00-17.00 (may be closed due to weather conditions)
Family ticket 16 euros (
Prices can be found here http://castelodesaojorge.pt/en/tickets-schedule-and-information/
History of Castelo de S. Jorge
The fortification, built by the Moors in the middle of the 11th century, served as the last line of defense for the elite living in the citadel: the Moorish ruler, whose castle was nearby, as well as the ruling elite, whose houses are still visible at the archaeological site.
After Don Alfonso Henriques conquered Lisbon on October 25, 1147 and became the first king of Portugal, golden times came for the Castle of St. George - it became a royal residence. The ancient Moorish buildings were rebuilt and expanded to accommodate the king, his retinue and the bishop. One of the castle towers housed the royal archives.
As soon as the Portuguese kings converted the Castle of St. George into a Royal Palace in the 13th century, it was used to receive many famous Portuguese and foreign figures, as well as to hold festivities and coronations from the 14th to the 16th centuries. 
Starting in 1580, when Portugal became part of the Spanish crown, the Castle of St. George began to perform a more significant military function, which continued until the beginning of the 20th century. Some of its parts have been transformed, and some have been completed.
But only after the Lisbon earthquake in 1755, more significant work began to restore the fortress, during which the former ruins were blocked by new buildings. In the 19th century, military installations occupied the entire historical territory.
The castle and the ruins of the former royal palace were rediscovered during the restoration work of 1938-1940. Ancient buildings have been salvaged from previous demolition projects. The castle regained its former splendor and was opened to the public.
Archaeological research carried out at various sites at the end of the 20th century was extremely important in confirming the ancient age of the settlement on the hilltop, as well as the inestimable historical significance of the castle. It was these factors that served as the basis for the signing of the Royal Decree of 1910, according to which the Castle of St. George in Lisbon was proclaimed a National Monument. 
All photos - the author of the site @
The text uses official information from the guide to the castle.
The Castle of St. George or Castelo de São Jorge is a kind of historical pinnacle of the city, because. From the walls of the castle you can see almost the whole of Lisbon. We decided to visit this attraction and, in principle, did not regret it.
In the previous post, when I told you, a map of our walks was added just to the castle of St. George, so I will not insert a “how to get” map in this article.
The entrance to the castle is paid. Adult ticket costs 7 euro. Students up to 25 years old - 4 euro. The idea to cheat a little crept in, then it even became a little uncomfortable. We are no longer students (I have not been a student for 7 years already :-)), but we thought, why not try. Hint about tickets for students. They thought that Vika could easily be mistaken for a student, because. She, at that time, only a year ago, as she graduated from high school. We were asked to show the student. Naturally, we don’t have it, well, we hesitated, said that we forgot and, in principle, were already ready to pay the full cost of the ticket, as they say, no, no. But the boy who sold the tickets turned out to be very friendly and punched us two tickets for 4 euros. 🙂
On the one hand, I was glad that at the age of 28 they took me for a student, but on the other hand, it became a little uncomfortable that the situation played out like this. Well, okay ... "we will consider these 7 euros as a gift to us from Lisbon, he will not get poorer because of this," I thought, and we went to conquer the castle of St. George.
courtyard near the castle of St. George
The castle itself is a brutal fortress, of which only the walls and, well, some internal buildings are well preserved. From the walls of the castle offers stunning views of Lisbon. For this alone it is worth visiting this fortress.
View from the castle walls to Lisbon
There are very few tourists on the territory of the castle, you can safely walk ... take pictures ...
Sunny Lisbon
You go for a walk, and then oops, and peacocks and peacocks are walking around importantly 🙂
In general, the castle is full of benches where you can sit in the shade ... take a break ... enjoy the birds singing. But then I was not up to singing ...
Imperial Lisbon
I will dwell on this frame in more detail. Probably, many people often have problems when they need to shoot against the sun, as you can see, it was impossible to take a picture here otherwise, but in the end it seems to me that it turned out to be quite a good shot. In order to avoid strong blooming, I recommend firstly using a wide-angle lens (18mm or less) and setting the aperture to the maximum value (F20-22). Then the sun will turn from blurry into such a radiant one and the frame itself will be overexposed, but still not so strong. 🙂
In addition to the walls themselves, part of the interior of the fortress has also been preserved ...
inner courtyard of the castle
In my opinion, the castle of St. George is somewhat reminiscent of the Tsarevets fortress in the ancient capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo. Who was, he will understand ...
Castle labyrinths 🙂
It's great that the observation deck at the castle of St. George, if not 360 degrees, then 270, that's for sure! On the opposite side, from the walls of the castle, there is an equally beautiful view of the monastery of San Vicente de Fora (Paróquia de São Vicente de Fora).
view of the monastery of San Vicente de Fora from the castle walls
In short, you understand ... I'm stuck here ... 🙂 the camera shutter only managed to work after I pressed the start button, some paparazzi did not waste time in vain ...
Near the exit from the castle of St. George
In general, we probably shot more than 100 frames for two ... if it were my will, I would lay out everything 🙂, but it’s better that you yourself come to Lisbon and walk around the castle of St. George to feel the majestic and beautiful Lisbon under your feet!
The article turned out to be rather a mini photo review, but I hope from it you can get an idea of \u200b\u200bthe castle of St. George. I would recommend this attraction to visit. We really enjoyed climbing the walls of the castle, and the views from them, I think, will not leave anyone indifferent!
Castle of St. George is located in (Portugal) is considered the heart of the capital, from which the history of the city began. According to archaeologists, 2 walls to protect against attack, 18 observation towers and a church were built by the Arabs in the 8th century.
At the center of this masterpiece of ancient architecture is the citadel. You can get to it by a rising bridge over the moat. In 1147, the crusader army led by Afonso I conquered it as the Temple of the Lord. Now hundreds of pilgrims visit this place in the Holy Land. In 1255, Afonso III built the palace as the residence of the Portuguese monarchs. During its difficult history, the building survived attacks and fires, was repeatedly destroyed and restored. After the earthquake of 1531, only separate rooms remained from the palace, which now houses the archaeological museum. Among its exhibits are decorative elements of the ancient royal palace and household items found during excavations. In the pavilion on the site of the library, fragments of old books, military maps and government documents found by archaeologists are stored. The appearance and interior of the museum will immerse visitors in the atmosphere of medieval Portugal.
In the old wing of the palace, the menagerie housed the lions that King Afonso V brought back from Africa as hunting trophies. Now there is a restaurant "" ("House of the Lion"), the interior of which is stylized as the Middle Ages. The clothes of the waiters also correspond to the fashion of that time.
Luxurious gardens grow on the territory of the castle, laid out by royal gardeners in the 17th century. Peacocks with long beautiful tails are not at all afraid of guests and allow you to take pictures with them.
In the front park there are monuments to Afonso I and other rulers of the country, and cannons symbolize strength and power
On weekends and holidays, artists arrange theatrical interactive performances. Thanks to the "live" scenery and acting, the audience can feel like the inhabitants of ancient Lisbon.
Climbing the high fortress wall, you can see the beauty of the capital.
How to get there?
From the center of Lisbon to the fortress can be reached on foot or by bus 737 and trams 12, 28.
Open daily from 9.00 to 21.00
Ticket price
For Adults - 8.50 €
For visitors over 65 years old - 5 €
Entrance for children under 10 years old is free.
