Castle in Guimaraes
Also known as Castelo de Guimaraes
Paid entryThere is an entry charge.
The 10th-century hilltop castle where Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, is traditionally said to have been born, which is why Guimaraes calls itself the birthplace of the country. Founded as a defense for a local monastery and later rebuilt by Portugal’s founding dynasty, it is now a national monument and one of the most symbolically important sites in the country.
The walk up the castle hill and the open setting around the walls are free, so the exterior and the views cost nothing even though entering the castle and climbing the keep tower carry a ticket. The fortress sits on the same slope as the small Romanesque Igreja de Sao Miguel do Castelo, tied to the king’s baptism, and the grander Palace of the Dukes of Braganza just below, so one free walk past the three strings the founding story together. The Medieval City Walls of Guimaraes run off the same hill down into the old town. Pay only if you want inside the walls; the hilltop and the view stay free.
Nearby
Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
Franciscan church and former convent at the southern edge of the historic centre of Guimaraes, a classified heritage monument best known for its Baroque interior. Blue-and-white azulejo panels line the walls with hagiographic scenes from the life of Saint Anthony, set off by carved and gilded woodwork on the altars.
The medieval walls that once ringed the old town of Guimaraes, the city Portugal calls its birthplace. Built to protect the settlement that grew below the castle, the surviving stretches still frame the UNESCO-listed historic centre and connect visually to Guimaraes Castle on the hill above.
Former convent of the Poor Clares whose Baroque facade now fronts the Guimaraes City Hall (Camara Municipal). The exterior, public square, and classical cloister sit free to view on a walk through the UNESCO-listed historic centre, a short stroll from Largo do Toural and on the way up toward Guimaraes Castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza.
Home ground of Vitoria Sport Clube, one of Guimaraes's biggest institutions and a long-running Primeira Liga club. The Estadio D. Afonso Henriques was rebuilt to host Euro 2004 matches and is named after Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, who was a native of this city. Walking up to it and viewing the exterior costs nothing.
The Gothic collegiate church on Largo da Oliveira is the historic heart of Guimaraes and one of the most photographed spots in the city, thanks to the Gothic stone canopy, the Padrao do Salado, that stands in front of it. The square outside and that canopy shrine cost nothing to admire, which is where most of the value sits for budget travelers.
Small Romanesque chapel on the castle hill in Guimaraes, traditionally tied to the baptism of Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal. It stands on the green between Guimaraes Castle and the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, so it costs nothing extra to fold into the walk most people already do up the hill.
Working out what Guimaraes costs?
The whole of Guimaraes