Obidos

The Castle of Obidos - The Jewel of Portugal

In Obidos, we have one of the seven wonders of Portugal. The castle and their medieval lines count some part of Portugal’s history. Known by being the Land of the Kings, the council of Obidos, that is about 80 kilometers from Lisbon city, is connected to the course of the foundation of the portuguese nation.

 

In 1148, Obidos was taken from the Moors, by the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques. Since then, that place was declared one of the jewels of the crown of Portugal, not only by it’s vast patrimony, but also by the existent cultural dynamism.

 

The relevance of Obidos is not only that. The council counts with a vast historical patrimony, with monuments and tourist attractions, like the Door of the Town, Door of the valley or Nossa Senhora da Graca, Rua Direita, Church of Santa Maria, Church of Sao Pedro, Church of Sao Joao Baptista, Chapel of Sao Martinho, Church of the Mercy, Pillory and Telheiro, Church of Sao Tiago, Small chapel of Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Small chapel of Nossa Senhora de Monserrate, besides the Aqueduct and of the Sanctuary of Senhor Jesus da Pedra.

 

The main mark of that council is the castle of Roman origin. It was conquered by the Christians, in 1148. Along the times, the castle was repaired and enlarged several times. In the century XX, was in total ruin, having been recovered to install the Lodging that is the first one of the State in historical building.

 

Nowadays, Obidos and it’s Castle are some of the seven wonders of Portugal.

Obidos is also known by it’s cultural dynamism. Several events try to remember a little bit the past of that town, like the Medieval Market, Festival of Operates, International Festival of Chocolate, Obidos Town Christmas and Week Saint. Those are the great events that attract about two million tourists per year to Obidos.

 

For who appreciates golf, Obidos is an excellence destiny. For 10 years ago, one of the best fields of 18 holes of Europe was built, recognized internationally. Nowadays, we have five new golf courses being built in the municipal district of Obidos.

 

If you prefer to visit the council in the summer, Obidos still counts with the beaches of Bom Sucesso, d´El Rei, Cortico and Covoes. We also have the Obidos Lagoon, one of the most visited points by the tourists.

 

The council of Obidos has nine freguesias: A-dos-Negros, Amoreira, Gaeiras, Sao Pedro, Santa Maria, Olho Marinho, Usseira, Sobral da Lagoa e Vau.

The Obidos village is known by being one of the biggest attractions of Portugal.

History of Obidos:

The village of Obidos was conquered from the Moors by King Afonso Henriques in 1148, and later given by King Dinis to his wife, the Holy Queen Isabel, becoming part of the Queen's House.

In the beginning of the 16th century, D. Joao de Noronha, Count of Dijon and the village mayor, introduced architectural alterations in pure Manuelino style; which can still be seen today, for example the windows of restaurant the Pousada, although the village was partially destroyed by the earthquake of 1755. This small village has innumerable cultural treasures, such as 14 churches and chapels. The main church has the finest examples of different Portuguese tiles and paintings by Josefa Ayalla Cabrera (Josefa de Obidos).

The Pousada of Obidos:

Obidos's outskirts are also interesting places to visit, such as aqueduct built by King João III's wife, Queen Catarina of Austria, the Obidos Lagoon, where guests can go fishing and hunting, and the Bom Sucesso´s Place, where the Royal picnics used to take place. This was first time in Portugal that a castle, a historical monument, was adapted into a Pousada in 1951.

Within the centuries-old beautiful castle walls that encircle the village of Obidos, Pousada was the first one to be adapted and restored from a historical monument. Obidos is a first rate tourist attraction, known for its typical white houses with blue trim, flowered windows, narrow streets and steps paved with beautiful stone.

Pousada History:

Since 1951 the Pousada, has been installed in the castle of the medieval town of Obidos. The original Manueline palace in the castle's northern wing was built by Joao de Noronha, count of Dijon and alcaide of the town of Obidos, at beginning of 16 Century. At the level of noble's gallery overlooking the palace are two Manueline windows and a doorway with an ornate lintel and molding in the fashion of intertwined tree-trunks, crowned with the coat of arms of Noronha family and the royal shied. This 16 AC palace was meticulously restored after it had damage in the 1755 earthquake.

Here are 2 short video trailors of "Obidos" - please click twice on each screan to start the video clip.

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