Saint George's Castle in Lisbon and the secret door. Castle of St. George in Lisbon Lisbon is the oldest city in which time has stood still forever
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The historical core of the capital of Portugal, the Lisbon Kremlin, the Castle of St. George calmly observes the life of the city through the narrow loopholes and square battlements of its thousand-year-old walls. The ancient fortress of the Romans, Visigoths and Moors came under the command of the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, in 1147 - and since then every Portuguese has revered it as the basis of statehood. Today, St. George's Castle welcomes tourists with the peace and coolness of its shady courtyard, an impressive collection of medieval cannons and breathtaking panoramic views of the red mosaic of Lisbon's tiled roofs, intercepted by the blue ribbon of the Tagus River. Responsible for the educational and entertainment component Archaeological Museum, restaurant and camera obscura in one of the towers of the fortress.
A little history
Castle of St. George traces its history back to the turn of the old and new eras: first there was a fortress of the Romans, then the Visigoths, and then the Moors. In 1147, the crusaders, led by Afonso Henriques, captured the castle, expelling the Moors, and laid the foundation for the Portuguese state. Until the 16th century, the fortress was a royal residence.
What to see
You can appreciate the appearance of the castle from afar: the fortress is clearly visible from almost anywhere in the city. The battlements of its powerful walls stand out clearly against the blue Portuguese sky, and the foundation seems to have merged with the high hill above the Tagus River.
As you walk up to the entrance to the castle, you will certainly notice the massiveness and at the same time laconic symmetry of its structure with many architectural elements: a circular moat with arch bridge, two tiers of fortress walls with a gallery, 18 corner and watchtowers and a powerful barbican - the external fortification of the bastion.
The entrance to the territory of St. George's Castle lies through the main fortress gate. Once through the massive wooden doors, you will find yourself in a quiet courtyard planted with lush greenery, in the shade of which there are benches and peacocks, geese and ducks wandering around. Here you will be greeted by a statue of King Afonso Henriques (this glorious statesman recaptured the castle from the Moors) and a series of medieval guns - a reminder of the formidable days in the history of the fortress. Little remains of the inner palace, the residence of the Portuguese rulers: the stone building now houses a restaurant. Walking around it, you will see the entrance to the underground archaeological museum, in three halls of which finds on the territory of the fortress are presented from ancient times to the 18th century. A multimedia show about the history of Lisbon, Olyssiponia, is also shown here.
In one of the halls of the current archaeological museum, the most famous Portuguese, Vasco da Gama, once appeared before King Manuel.
Perhaps, if we talk about what the heart of Lisbon is, then this is undoubtedly the Castle of St. George (castelo de sau Jorge). The fortress from which the history of the city began.
You will be rewarded for your ascent through the steep and narrow streets with stunning views from St. George's Castle. You can walk along the thick walls of the castle, you can see the silvery thread of the Tagus, and the ocean of tiled roofs of Lisbon.
It is difficult to say who was the first to notice such a strategic location of the hill at the mouth of the Tagus River. One of archaeological finds indicate that already in the 7th century BC. people lived here. The first defensive structures appeared during the Roman Empire. There is evidence that during the war between the Romans and the Lusitanians, the hill was surrounded by a protective wall.
In the 8th century, the Arabs expanded the Roman wall and erected an alcazar citadel. The castle was protected by a fortress wall, around which there was a moat. You could get inside via a bridge.
For greater protection, another 1250 m long wall is being built around the city, with six arched gates - Cerca Velha(Old wall).
Several fragments have survived to this day. One of which you can see on the patio Pátio D. Fradique at Alfama, another near the Portas do Sol viewpoint, this fragment served as the foundation for a church.
The Moorish fortification did not prevent the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, from besieging the castle in 1147. For four months the Portuguese tried to recapture the castle from the Moors. The king's army consisted of 27 thousand people, of which 13 thousand were crusaders heading to the Holy Land.
As the legend says, the crusaders captured the castle of St. George thanks to the feat of the knight Martim Moniz, who valiantly gave his life for the victory of his king. You can see the panel depicting this moment on the wall of the church, on the observation deck of Santa Luzia.
In 1255, Lisbon became the capital of Portugal, and the fortress became the royal residence of Afonso III.
At the beginning of the 14th century, King Dinis I rebuilds the ascetic Moorish fortress into a palace Alcáçova. In the Middle Ages, in 1375, by order of King Don Fernando, another belt of fortress walls was erected around the expanding Lisbon.
Construction lasted two years. The walls served to protect against attacks and robberies by the army of the Castilian king Don Enrique. And the city withstood several sieges by persistent Castilians. The 5,400-meter-long wall with 77 towers was named Cerca Fernandina or just New Wall ( Cerca Nova).
At the end of the 14th century, John was the first to marry the English princess Felipe Lancaster. The same castle is given a Christian name in honor of St. George, the patron saint of knights.
In the Torre de Ulisses tower, or as it was called under Fernando III - Torre do Tombo, today there is a camera obscura where panoramas of Lisbon are projected (sessions are conducted in several languages - English, French, Spanish). And in those distant times, there was an archive where the most important royal documents were kept.
Royal weddings were held within the walls of the palace, receptions were held, and here King Manuel I honored the navigator Vashko de Gamma, who returned from a successful expedition.
From this moment on, the golden age of Portugal began. It was at this time that the legendary Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower, as well as the huge royal palace of Ribeira were built, where it is located today Terreiro do Paço(old name - Praça do Comercio).
The royal court leaves the walls of the fortress and moves to comfortable apartments on the banks of the Tagus. Gradually, St. George's Castle is losing its importance; the earthquake of 1531, which damaged the castle, only accelerated this process.
The young, romantic King Sebastian wanted to return the castle to its former significance and even ordered restoration work. But he never returned from the battlefield, just at that time Portugal fell under the yoke of the Spaniards, who set up barracks and a prison within the walls of the castle.
The castle of St. George, which had fallen into disrepair, was not spared by the earthquake of 1755. It destroyed most buildings of the fortress, including the fortress walls.
Those fragments that have survived have “grown into the city.” Former gate became arches in Alfama, and parts of the fortress wall served as the basis for new buildings, for example, today part of the wall Fernandina can be seen inside the commercial center Espaço Chiado.
At the end of the 18th century, a charitable organization was located in the citadel Casa Pia, which taught poor orphans. On the ruins of the fortress local residents They erect all kinds of buildings: temporary huts, warehouses, storerooms.
On June 16, 1910, a few months before the overthrow of the monarchy in Portugal, the last king, Don Manuel II, issues a law on the classification of national treasures, one of the first of which includes the Castle of St. George.
And only in 1938, by order of Salazar, the restoration of the area began. The entire “new building” is demolished, the walls of the castle are restored, archaeological excavations begin, gardens are laid out, and monuments to the kings are erected. What we see with you today are the skillfully restored walls of a once great fortress.
In the square where you arrive after standing in line and passing through the turnstiles, there is a statue of Afonso I, the same king who recaptured the citadel from the Moors. There are cannons mounted on parapets near the walls.
In the old wing of the Royal Palace of Alcáçova is located the restaurant Casa do Leão, which means “house of the lion”. The name has historical roots, here King Afonso V kept lions brought as a trophy from Africa.
In the next wing there is an archaeological museum, where all the finds found during excavations within the castle walls are presented. To be honest, nothing interesting - shards, fragments of tiles, bones.
Peacocks, dragging their long tails and flying from branch to branch above the castle visitors, are a colorful addition to the rather empty territory of the fortress. In the very heart of the castle of St. George - the citadel, where we get through a paved bridge stretching over a moat that has long dried up.
Here you can safely climb the walls and examine the castle and the city from above, as the guards once did. In one of the walls of the citadel they preserved the very door with the help of which the Portuguese took possession of the castle - Porta Martim Moniz.
Medieval dramatizations, archery and theatrical performances are often held on the castle grounds.
If you come to the castle in the late afternoon, be sure to stay to watch the sunset. From the castle walls it looks even more majestic.
And if it’s still far before sunset, then go wander through the tiny streets of the area Castelo, where local residents hang cages with canaries and pots of geraniums at their doors, and the murmur of a TV or noisy voices can be heard from the windows. And the neighbors talk over their balconies and complain about the onlookers who disturb their peace.
Castle of St. George (Castelo de São Jorge) or better Observation deck in Lisbon
Knowing that St. George's Castle is one of the main attractions of Lisbon, we definitely decided to visit it. The castle stands on top of a hill in the historical part of the city, at an altitude of more than 100 meters and is therefore visible from almost everywhere.
Path to the castle
Initially, our ascent to the fortress was planned in a lightweight version, namely on the red tourist tram from the stop in Figueira Square. In addition, travel on it is free if you have a valid tourist ticket. Yellow bus. But at the stop we met an incredible queue of people wanting to ride. Deciding not to waste time, we went on foot and didn’t regret it for a second.
Turning from Figueira Square onto the street Rua da Madalena and after passing several houses, we saw a funny staircase-street with graffiti.
A miraculous staircase took us several tiers higher, from where we slowly continued our ascent to the castle, without ceasing to enjoy the local flavor of the quarter Bairro do Castelo.
Other ways to get to the castle: trams 12 and 28 (Miradouro de Santa Luzia stop), metro (Martim Moniz station).
Impressions of the castle
I will not go into historical details, which many reviews are full of even without me, but will tell you about my impressions from the point of view of a lazy contemplative tourist. Sometimes you really don’t want to load your head with information that is useful, but so quickly forgotten by many of us, right?
The fortress itself does not make much of an impression. Of the buildings, only the walls and towers themselves have mainly been preserved. And even then they were restored after the devastating earthquake of 1755 only during the restoration in 1938. 
But at the same time, the atmosphere inside is very pleasant and peaceful. The area has a lot of greenery, courtyards and.....peacocks! Yes, they casually walk around the entire territory with absolutely royal equanimity. They are not afraid of people and beg food from tourists. Well, just like pigeons. And it turns out they can fly))
To fully experience the magnificence of the opening views of the city, sit down at the stone tables on the fortress wall, break away from the bustle of the city and be alone with this peaceful beauty.
A glass of port from the “Wine with view” kiosk will put you in an even more romantic mood.
Is it worth a visit?
Definitely “YES”! Castle of St. George is worth a visit for the fantastic views of Lisbon. Walking along the fortress walls, you will get a panoramic view of this magnificent, calm and unique city.
The views are simply breathtaking. Cozy tiled roofs basking under the southern sun, narrow streets, the Tagus River hugging Lisbon. I want to look at all this and look at it. And if you are already a little familiar with the city, then, like on a three-dimensional map, it will be easy for you to find its main attractions. This is Commerce Square, Rossio and Figueira squares, the statue of Christ on the opposite bank of the Tagus River, the Santa Justa elevator, the ruins of the church of the Monastery do Carmo and some others.
And in the evening you can still see a beautiful sunset from here.
Here you can see the Commerce Square and the statue of Christ on the opposite bank of the river. Tagus 
In the center you can see the ruins of the church of the Monastery of Do Carmo and the Santa Justa elevator 
The 25th of April Bridge leading to the statue of Christ is visible 
- Address: 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal
- Telephone:+351 218 800 620
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost of visit: $6,17
The Castle of St. George is located right on top of the highest of the seven hills in Alfama above the old Moorish quarter. The castle is clearly visible from afar. It is famous for its panoramic views of the city and surrounding areas of the capital. You can see behind Atlantic Ocean, and on clear days and are visible in the distance.
Stories of a Portuguese castle
The oldest parts of the fortress's buildings date back to the 6th century, when it was founded by the Romans, then completed by the Visigoths, and later by the Moors. The castle served as the residence of the Moorish kings until 1147, when it was conquered by Afonso Henriques, the first king, with the active participation of British crusader knights in the Second Christian Crusade. The castle was named in honor of St. George, the patron saint of England. The palace became the residence of the kings of Portugal and served this function until the construction of the Ribeira Palace in the 16th century. One of the chambers of the palace was reserved for Vasco da Gama during his stay in Lisbon after returning from sea voyages.
After the transition of Portugal to the rule of the Crown of Spain in 1580, the fortress of St. George in Lisbon acquired a military-defensive character, which was maintained until the beginning of the 20th century. After the earthquake in 1755, many new buildings appeared on the site of the old ruins. Restoration work carried out in 1938-40 once again revealed the fortress and the remains of the old royal palace.
St. George's Castle today
The castle complex, surrounded by a citadel, consists of the castle itself, the royal palace and several other buildings, gardens and a terraced area. The main entrance to the citadel (19th century gate) leads to main square(Praça d'Armas), which is decorated with old cannons and a bronze statue of Afonso Henriques. The medieval Moorish castle with its 10 towers is located on the very high point hill. A wall with a tower and a connecting door bisects the castle courtyard, and stairs allow visitors to reach a walkway on the wall and towers, which offers magnificent views of Lisbon. The long fortress wall on the western part of the hill slopes down, ending at the Torre de Curaza tower.
Open to the public 7 days a week, St. George's Castle is now Lisbon's most popular tourist attraction, where you can visit:
Features of the visit
Opening hours of St. George's Castle in Lisbon.
Castelo de São Jorge Lisbon, PortugalWalking through the streets of ancient Lisbon, it is impossible not to pay attention to the prominent hill, “crowned” by the main fortress of the Portuguese capital, visible even from the outskirts of the city. The Castle of St. George is located in such a prominent place that it inevitably attracts the attention of tourists, whose undying interest has made the “flagship” of Portuguese castles one of the most visited attractions in Lisbon.
From time immemorial, the highest of the seven hills of Lisbon was considered a strategic hill, so from ancient times it was “crowned” with fortifications that belonged to the Romans, then the Visigoths, then the Moors. The fortified “height” came under the rule of Portugal thanks to the first king of the state, who actively carried out the Reconquista. Afonso I Enriques in 1147, with the support of the crusaders, took the castle of the Moorish emir after a three-month siege. From then until the appearance of the Ribeira Palace in the 16th century, the liberated fortress served royal palace, and the liberator Afonso I Henriques was immortalized in the form of a statue located on the castle grounds.
The castle, whose name in Portuguese sounds like Castelo de São Jorge, in the 14th century under King João I received the name of St. George the Victorious, patron of knights and crusades. And such a renaming is considered no coincidence, associating it with the establishment of close relationships with England, whose patron saint is traditionally considered St. George.
After the more elegant Ribeira Palace was preferred to the rude fortress, the Castle of St. George was allocated for military needs, and was used as barracks, and over time it was completely reclassified as a prison, which did not have the best effect on the safety ancient building. After all this, as well as after the devastating earthquake of 1755, the fortification structure needed restoration, which was carried out twice in the 20th century.
Severe rectangular towers, wide battlements, an impenetrable dry ditch - here it is, a formidable castle with a genuine military past. And hidden inside it is a real oasis - on an area of 6,000 square meters there are two parks where different types of trees coexist: pines, oaks, olive trees and many other types of vegetation. Among all this park greenery, peacocks flash with their motley plumage, and white swans slowly sway on the glittering surface of the reservoirs.
In 1910, the Castle of St. George was recognized as a National Monument of Portugal. Now, in addition to regular excursions, ceremonial events, various performances and exhibitions are held here, among which a wide collection of iconography is of particular interest.