The Castle of Vila Flor (Portuguese: Castelo de Vila Flor) is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Vila Flor e Nabo, municipality of Vila Flor, Portuguese district of Bragança.
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Early History
The presence of several ancient forts in ruins suggest indicates that the region has been occupied by prehistoric humans.
Medieval era
Archeological and anedoctal evidence places the establishment of the village at the height of the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the eleventh century.
It and the region became part of the Kingdom of Portugal under King Afonso I of Portugal upon Portugal's independence.
On 24 May 1286, King Dinis (1279-1325) granted a Foral Charter to the village, the first time of its existence in the record books. In 1295, the king rose the village to a town status.
The village was sympathetic to Jewish families who were expelled from other parts of Europe. Influx of immigration led to the development of agriculture, trade and manufacturing of leather and jewelery.
King Manuel (1495-1521) handed the town a new Foral Charter on 4 May 1512. However, the new Charter was anti-Semitic and drove away a lot of Jews, resulting in a massive decline of the population.
Modern day
Over time, the castle saw its usefulness decline. Townspeople neglected to maintain proper of the castle and the fortress slowly wore due to the force of nature. The castle is mostly in ruins with a few left standing.
It was later decreed by the Portuguese government that it is a site of Public interest on 20 October 1955.
Characteristics
The castle is protected by a ring of wall that originally had five gates. Of these five ports, only one portcullis survives and is named as South Gate or Arch of D. Dinis. It is a pointed arch with dimensions of 3.5 meters wide by 4 meters high and is held by two semicircular plant towers.