Sortelha - castelo

A little bit of history

The highlight of a trip to Sortelha has to be the castle itself. As with most ruined castles in Portugal, you are free to roam its walls at your own risk. In other words, don’t expect safety barriers and wear sensible shoes. Climb up to the tower for remarkable views over the boulder-strewn fields and a crop of giant wind turbines. With such wide-reaching views, it’s easy to understand why King Sancho established the village as part of a strategic line of defence in the early 13th century.

The border moved east with Portuguese victory later that century and Sortelha was largely forgotten about until the 16th century when King Manuel I showed an interest. This lead to new buildings, judicial powers and the Manueline pillory which is still a focal point of the village.