Castro Marim Castle

Castro Marim Castle sits on a hill above the town of Castro Marim, about 15 minutes by car from Praia Verde. The castle is medieval in its present form but the site has been fortified since prehistoric times — the hill commands the Guadiana estuary and the border with Spain. The main castle and its outer walls are well preserved, and views from the ramparts take in the salt pans of the natural reserve, the river, and on clear days the Spanish town of Ayamonte across the water.

In the last weekend of August, Castro Marim hosts a medieval fair inside and around the castle walls — one of the better ones in the Algarve, with costumed participants, medieval food stalls, jousting displays, and music. The castle is open daily and entry is inexpensive.

things to do sight
A story
Castro Marim's castle was the first headquarters of the Order of Christ in Portugal, established here in 1319 when the Knights Templar were dissolved and their Portuguese members reformed under a new name. Henry the Navigator — whose maritime expeditions opened the sea routes to Africa and Asia — was at one point governor of the Order of Christ, giving this modest border castle an unexpected connection to the Age of Exploration.