Castle of Óbidos

Óbidos Castle: A monument from medieval times where it is possible to sleep

Have you ever dreamed of being a prince or princess? In Óbidos it is possible to become a member of the royal family, at least for the night. The Castle, conquered by D. Afonso I in 1148, has several rooms for rent, in the form of Pousada, their peculiarity being that they are inserted directly into the structure of the castle. The Óbidos Castle is one of the most beautiful and emblematic in the country. It stands 79 metres above sea level and is very easy to get to. 

History of the castle

The history of this building is long: it fell into the hands of the Lusitanians in the 12th century, and it was during the Reconquista that D. Afonso I recovered it, as the first official documents dating back to 1153 indicate.

The castle of Óbidos has been the scene of several conflicts, such as the crisis of deposition of King D. Sancho II, it was at the beginning of the 13th century that the city remained loyal to the king, resisting the assaults of the armed forces of his brother, the Count of Bologna, who coveted the title of King D. Afonso III.

The castle of Óbidos, as it could not be otherwise, is by far one of the most romantic places in the country, it is a symbol of love and royalty. This is due to the fact that in 1210, the ruler Afonso II gave the town - and the castle, for that matter - as a wedding present to his wife, D. Urraca. Later in 1282, King Dinis and Queen Santa Isabel spent their honeymoon there, and the king included the castle in his wife's list of wedding gifts. Thus, Óbidos Castle became part of the tradition of the Casa das Rainhas (House of Queens), the name given to the set of goods given to queens when they marry a king. D. Leonor (15th century) and D. Málaga (15th century) also stayed there. Leonor (15th century) and D. Catarina (16th century), two of the city's greatest patrons, also stayed there.

Following the earthquake of 1755, the castle of Óbidos suffered serious structural damage and its reconstruction proved to be a difficult project. Over the years, various modifications were made, and in 1932, the General Directorate of National Buildings and Monuments decided to carry out extensive consolidation, reconstruction and restoration work. A few years later, the Castelejo space was adapted into the Pousada do Castelo (now the Castle Hotel).

Practical information

Óbidos Castle opening times and entrance fees

The castle is open all the time and the visit is free.

Access to the city

Óbidos has almost direct access to the A8 motorway (from the motorway exit to the castle it is only about 2 kilometres). It is also served by a railway station with direct connections to Caldas da Rainha and to Santa Apolónia station in Lisbon.

Extend your visit 

But a trip to Óbidos must include a visit to the town and a tasting of its famous ginjinha. Ginjinha, a cherry-based liqueur, is very popular in Portugal, especially in Lisbon and Óbidos where it originated. After this tasty experience, the trip can be completed with a visit to Caldas da Rainha, or Foz do Arelho.