Leiria Castle
You'll find this interesting castle right in the center of Portugal. Leiria was used as a Southern outpost of the Kingdom of Portugal and was at it's height during the 12th century. The first king of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, captured a castle at the same spot from the Moors in 1135. The king and his family had a palace built within the walls of Leiria Castle. It was one of the main royal residences. Besides the castle itself, there is more to see in Leiria as it still has many historical features like it's cobbled old quarter. The present castle was built around 1320. Just below the castle is a small Romanesque church. King Dinis was reponsible for most of the structures (including the current castle) at Leiria.
Here are some images of Leiria and surroundings:
Leiria Castle - +/- 1320
Abbey of Batalha - 1385 (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE)
Abbey of Batalha - 1385 (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE)
You can find more information about the castle
and Leiria in general
on the following sites:
Leiria Guide - Town and area information.
Portugal Travel Guide - Includes images.
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