Obidos!

Castle at Obidos

Dear Commons Community,

Yesterday, we visited Obidos, a small town on the Atlantic Coast of Portugal. The name “Óbidos” is a Latinized derivation of the older Celtic “Eburobricio”. It has an extensive history starting as a Roman settlement near the foothills of an elevated escarpment. The region of Óbidos, extending from the Atlantic to the interior of Estremadura Province along the rivers and lakes has been inhabited since the late Paleolithic. Archeological evidence from the base of the medieval tower at Óbidos Castle indicates Roman construction linked to an outpost in Eburobrittium, a large urban area that has been under excavation.

After the fall of Rome, the region came under the influence of the Visigoths, although specific records are missing. The Roman town of Eburobrittium was abandoned in the 5th century for the more secure hilltop where today the principal settlement is located. Sometime after 713 the Moors established a fortification on this mountain, while a Christian community of Mozarabs lived in the Moncharro neighbourhood.

The city was taken from the Moors during the reign of the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, in 1148.

The castle and walls of Óbidos were remodelled during the reign of King Dinis I. The limestone and marble structure was strengthened and elaborated, while the keep was created in the 14th century, by King Fernando. By the time of the first remodelling project, the settlement had also grown beyond the gates of the castle.

Today quaint small lanes that preserve its medieval past wind their way to the castle with chapels, bookstores, restaurants, and small stores selling mostly tourist-related goods.

Tony

A Small Chapel