Crato - Historic Town in Portugal's Alentejo

We visited Crato, down the road from the magical Pousada of Flor da Rosa, to see the castle of Crato and try and trace some of the town walls.

The Castle is also known as Azinheiro Castle and although I can’t find information I wonder if it was originally a Moorish Castle. The town was reconquered in 1160 and it is hard to believe there was no fortification on the site to reconquer. The town became the headquarters of the Order of Christ (later the Order of Malta) in 1350. This was the Order which built the Monastery at Flor da Rosa, now the Pousada. Further, French-style fortifications were added in the 16C and 17C as part of the border fortifications, but they didn’t prevent a defeat by the Spaniards in 1662 from which the town never really recovered.

The Castle is situated at the highest point of Crato but it was locked when we visited and appears to be under renovation. From the side of the building there are wide views over the Alentejo, and perhaps an old road up the hill to Gate 1?

On the other side of the Castle there is what appears to be an old road up from the Roman bridge, and so there must have been a gate at this side of the town, Gate 5?

An old road into Crato from the Roman Bridge

And a stretch of wall, with what appears to be roadway could have been Gate 4?

The aim had been to see the Castle and a thorough exploration of the buildings in the town joins the ‘next-time’ list! However, all roads lead to the historic square where the Prior of Crato‘s palace stood, and of which only a balcony remains.