I Explored Portugal’s Castle Lore and These Long Buried Stories Still Amaze Me

What you'll discover in Portugal’s most famous castles will challenge everything you thought you knew about my country

Pena Palace: Photo by Vitor Oliveira on Wikimedia Commons (adapted)

Ever since I was a child, castles have fascinated me, and to this day, they still hold a special place in my heart.

Every time I touch the old granite walls, I can almost feel the roar of the great battles of old and how these stones hold the memory of those who came before us.

I remember how my grandfather used to take me on walks through the grounds of Guimarães Castle while telling me all these great stories of bygone times.

I would hold his hand and listen in awe. My vivid imagination would do the rest, and I’d see myself as a knight strolling the keep or an archer keeping watch on the donjon.

Afterward, back home, I would build these high ramparts and the inner walls with my LEGO bricks.

I still recall the many glorious LEGO battles fought for the treasure chests hidden under lock and key in the high tower of the castle’s keep.

Portugal has a rich and diverse history, and our castles are the granitic mementos of the country’s glorious past.

Today, they still daunt my imagination and seize the hearts of travelers and history enthusiasts from around the world.

This story takes you inside the walls and the deepest, darkest secrets hidden inside their centuries-old keeps.