The medieval castle, of which part of the wall and the 28-metre keep remain, was built on the foundations of the Roman walls that surrounded the town. It underwent improvements at the time of the Suevi, Alans, Visigoths and Muslims who conquered the fortification in 713.
Part of the medieval castle wall and the keep remain.
It was later taken over by King Afonso III of León at the time of the Christian reconquest, which led to its reconstruction. In 1258, King Afonso III of Portugal granted Chaves its first charter. The construction of the keep, which houses the cistern on the ground floor, and other improvements to the defensive structure also date back to this period. These were completed during the reigns of King Dinis and King Afonso IV, who confirmed the town's charter in 1350.
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Between 1658 and 1662, the castle's defences were once again modernised with bastioned walls, adapted to the artillery of the Restoration Wars, which had meanwhile been partially absorbed into the city's urban fabric. It has been classified as a National Monument since 1938.
Currently installed in the keep is the Museu Militar de Chaves (general admission: €1).
Contact
Tel.: (+351) 276 348 180
Email: turismo@chaves.pt
www.chaves.pt
Location
