File:Castelo de Montemor-o-Velho - Portugal (5158411631).jpg

Em 990, Almançor tomou o Castelo, reconquistado, em 1006, por Mendo Luz. Em 1088 ou 1095, foi reedificado por Afonso VI de Castela. Em 1109, D. Teresa e seu filho, D. Afonso Henriques, teriam ordenando novas reformas no Castelo. O Infante D. Pedro mandou-o ampliar. No século XIV, o Castelo deve ter tido uma reforma geral. No séc. XX, realizaram-se obras de reconstrução. <a href="http://www.cm-montemorvelho.pt/patrimonio_historico.asp?ref=26MOV" rel="nofollow">www.cm-montemorvelho.pt/patrimonio_historico.asp?ref=26MOV</a>

The Montemor-o-Velho Castle is the biggest medieval fortress existing in the Mondego River area. It is a moist ancient ensemble, with Roman traces detected in its perimeter. In the 9th century, the Montemor-o-Velho Castle was already in possession of the Asturian Kingdom. In the 10th century, momentarily under the Moorish rule, it underwent some constructive works by Ben-Alfagi's command. During the following centuries, it was successively lost and conquered again following Coimbra's military fate. It was only with the final conquest of the town, in 1064, by King Fernando, O Magno (The Great), that the Montemor-o-Velho Castle underwent deep alterations ordered one century later by King Afonso Henriques, who made Coimbra the reign's capital. From that early period nearly nothing remains (maybe the lower ashlars in the donjon can be assigned to the High Middle Ages). Its today's configuration is due to a total reform made in the 14th century (1331). A palace to the princesses was built then, which was transformed over and over again till the Manueline period. The donjon topped with pentagonal battlements and an upper floor surrounded by huge stones and lengthy brackets were also built, dating back to that period (King Afonso IV's campaign).