Obidos Castle
Located in the parish of União das Freguesias de Santa Maria, São Pedro and Sobral da Lagoa, in the village and municipality of Óbidos, district of Leiria. 90 km from Lisbon. Óbidos Castle is one of the main examples of medieval fortification in the country
By Jorge Toth
Set on a small hill, overlooking the surrounding plain and the Arnoia River, to the east. As a result of several architectural interventions over the centuries, it is part of the village surrounded by walls, preserving its medieval characteristics, it is also one of the most beautiful and best preserved in Europe, attracting thousands of visitors.
It is believed that the primitive human occupation of its site dates back to prehistoric origin, due to its proximity to the Atlantic coast, successively aroused the interest of invading peoples in the region. Occupied by Lusitanians in the 4th century BC, by the Romans in the 1st century, by the Visigoths, in the 5th to 6th centuries, and the Muslims, in the 8th century, attributing to the latter the building of the walled perimeter, as evidenced by the observation of the characteristics certain sections.
In the context of the Christian Reconquest of the region, after the conquests of Santarém and Lisbon (1147), the forces of Afonso Henriques I of Portugal (1143-1185) encountered strong resistance to conquer Óbidos and its castle, which they finally obtained in January 1148 (read the legend below). The castle has been referred to documentally since 1153.
Under the reign of Sancho I of Portugal (1185-1211) works were carried out in its defenses, according to the epigraphic inscription in Torre do Facho. Still in 1195 the village received its charter. His son and successor, Afonso II of Portugal (1211-1223), in 1210, donated the lordship of Óbidos to his wife, D. Urraca de Castela.
The village and its castle remained faithful to Sancho II of Portugal (1223-1248), during the crisis of its deposition, resisting victoriously, in 1246, the assaults of the forces of the count of Bologna, future Afonso III of Portugal (1248- 1279). This resistance earned the village the nickname “very noble and always loyal”, still used today in its coat of arms.
Dinis I of Portugal (1279-1325), in April 1281, granted the dna as dowry. Isabel de Aragão, his bride and future wife, the villages of Abrantes, Óbidos, Alenquer and Porto de Mós. The monarch carried out the restoration and enlargement of the old alcáçova and erected the keep, as well as barbicans by the doors.
Under the reign of Fernando I of Portugal (1367-1383) an epigraphic inscription of 1375 marked on a tower, considered by some to be of honor, although it lacks the characteristics of the massive base with entrance at the level of the raised floor, present in that of D. Dinis. In the context of the succession crisis between the years 1383 to 1385, his mayor, against the will of the residents, took the side of Beatriz de Portugal, having resisted the forces of Mestre de Avis. Óbidos and his castle were handed over to João I of Portugal (1385-1433) by Vasco Gonçalves Teixeira after the death in 1385, in combat of his father and mayor of the castle, João Gonçalves, in the battle of Aljubarrota.
Under the reign of John II of Portugal (1481-1495), Queen Dna. Leonor chose the village and his castle to reside after the death of his only son, Prince Afonso, by accident, opting in 1494 for the thermal waters of the region. His successor, Manuel I de Portugal (1495-1521), granted the Foral Novo in Óbidos in 1513 and made important improvements to the town and its castle. It was from this phase, in the 16th century, the reconstruction of the Paços do Alcaide by the then mayor D. João de Noronha.
In November 1755 an earthquake caused serious damage to the village's defenses, for lack of money it cannot be rebuilt. In the context of the Peninsular War (1808-1814), Óbidos fired the first artillery shots at the battle of Roliça, the first defeat of Napoleon's troops. In 1842, the adaptation of the Albarrã tower to Torre do Relógio was recorded and in 1869 the construction of an external staircase leading to the Torre de D. Fernando.
The castle was classified as a National Monument in June 1910. Subsequently, the classification was changed to include the castle and the entire village.
From 1932, which continue to the present day, the complex underwent the first consolidation, reconstruction and restoration interventions under the responsibility of the Directorate-General for National Buildings and Monuments (DGEMN). Since 1951, the Pousada de Óbidos has been installed in the Castelo da Medieval Vila de Óbidos and marked the beginning of the exploration of Classified Heritage by the Pousadas de Portugal that adapted the inn and inaugurated a new concept of use and recovery of Portuguese Historical Buildings under design by architect João Filipe Vaz Martins. In February 1969, an earthquake affected the entire complex, and repairs were carried out in the same year.
LEGEND OF DOOR TREASON
On a moonless night, the army of D. Afonso Henriques surrounded the fortress of Óbidos, where the Moors had resisted for about two months. D. Afonso Henriques and Gonçalo Mendes da Maia, the Lidador, had decided that the attack would be carried out in the early hours of the next day before retiring to their tents.
The Lidador was already sleeping when he was awakened by a woman's voice asking him to be taken to the tent of the king of Portugal, as he had something important to communicate to him. The young woman lived in the Moorish castle but did not know if she was a Moorish girl because she had never met her parents. Fearing a trap by the Moors, it was with some reluctance that the Lidador led her to the presence of the king, before whom the young woman revealed the dream that was repeated three nights ago.
In this dream, a young man with a brown beard and a sweet look appeared, who entrusted her with transmitting a message to the king of Portugal: the king should gather the soldiers and lead them in a surprise attack on the border of the castle, while that the Lidador should go with ten men to the rear where the young maiden would open a door to let them pass. The sweet-looking man promised Óbidos to Christians and salvation to the young maiden. Despite the Lidador's hesitation, D. Afonso Henriques no longer dared to doubt the divine designs after the Miracle of Ourique.
The next morning, Óbidos was conquered according to the dream of the mysterious young woman who was never seen again. The door that opened the entrance to Christians was forever known as the Door of Betrayal.
sources:
pousadas.pt/pt/hotel/pousada-obidos, turismo.eurodicas.com.br, fortalezas.org, pt.wikipedia.org, obidosvilaliteraria.com/historia-de-obidos
