Castle of the Moors | |
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Castelo dos Mouros | |
Lisbon, Greater Lisbon, Lisbon in Portugal | |
![]() The north-facing wall of the Castle of the Moors, perched on top of the Sintra Mountains, showing the rectangular towers, including the Royal Tower (top left) | |
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Coordinates | 38°47′33″N 9°23′22″W / 38.79250°N 9.38944°W |
Type | Castle |
Site information | |
Owner | Portuguese Republic |
Operator | Parques de Sintra Monte da Lua S.A.[1] |
Open to the public | Public |
Site history | |
Built | 8th century |
Materials | Granite, Limestone with "mixtum vittatum" |
The Castle of the Moors (Portuguese: Castelo dos Mouros) is a hilltop medieval castle located in the central Portuguese civil parish of Santa Maria e São Miguel, in the municipality of Sintra, about 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Lisbon. Built by the Moors in the 8th and 9th centuries, it was an important strategic point during the Reconquista, and was taken by Christian forces after the fall of Lisbon in 1147. It is classified as a National Monument, part of the Sintra Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.