🎬 Introduction
St. George’s Castle, (Portuguese: Castelo de São Jorge) one of Lisbon’s oldest landmarks, sits atop a hill, offering panoramic views of the city. Its strategic position made it an impregnable fortress in battle. Today, the castle proudly flies the flags of Portugal and Lisbon.
It’s worth climbing it to take a closer look at its thick walls and to find yourself on the city’s rooftop, where you can see it in all its glory.
The text and video below provide insight into the history of St. George’s Castle, its current appearance, and why it is such an important symbol for the city.
The siege of Lisbon
The earliest signs of settlement in this region were concentrated around the castle hill, dating back to the times of the Roman Empire. Evidence of fortifications suggests an Islamic presence around the 8th century AD, although the construction of the castle itself began in the mid-11th century. 
During this period, the region was under the control of the Moors, Muslims who had come to the Iberian Peninsula from North Africa. The Portuguese captured the castle in 1147 during the siege of Lisbon, establishing it as the political and military center of the country.
There is another story, more of a legend, associated with the siege of Lisbon about a Portuguese knight named Martim Moniz. During the siege, this hero manually opened one of the gates and then blocked it with his own body, allowing the other soldiers to break through. In honor of the brave Moniz, a square in Lisbon and a metro station, which features unique friezes depicting these events, were named after him.
Two centuries later, King John I the Great named the castle after Saint George, a heroic warrior and martyr from early Christianity. The importance of this patron to Portugal is evident in the military battle cry still used today: “Portugal and Saint George!” This cry was first used in a battle in 1385, when 6,000 Portuguese soldiers, led by 🔗 Álvares Pereira, defeated a Castilian army of 30,000, thereby thwarting Castile’s ambitions to conquer Portugal.
Under Portuguese control, the castle was strengthened and expanded with additional fortifications, the construction of a royal palace, the bishop’s residence, and the royal archives. In 1455, King John II, known as the Perfect Prince and one of the initiators of the great geographical discoveries, was born here. In 1502, King John III the Pious was also born at the castle, during whose reign the Portuguese conquered new territories in the West Indies, including Bombay. In 1499, Vasco da Gama was received here with honors.
The castle’s period of glory began to fade in the 16th century. This decline was partly due to the earthquake of 1531 and the construction of a new residence, the Ribeira Palace, by King Manuel I. The most catastrophic earthquake in Lisbon’s history, in 1755, also significantly damaged the Castle of Saint George. Over the following years, the castle was neglected, and in the 19th century, various unsightly additions were made to accommodate barracks and other offices. It wasn’t until the 1940s that the authorities undertook a restoration, returning the castle to its original form.
Architecture
The castle we see today is a Gothic structure surrounded by a dry moat, built on a square plan with sides approximately 50 meters (164 feet) long. It is encircled by walls 5 meters (16.4 feet) thick, reaching up to 10 meters (32.8 feet) in height in some places. Attached to the walls are ten quadrangular turrets. The southeastern part, more vulnerable to attack, is additionally protected by a barbican with a reinforced base and a moat. The castle has three gates along the perimeter of the wall and additional ones within the fortifications.
The fact that the castle was never conquered in battle is certainly due to the synergy of natural and engineering defenses. Firstly, the slopes of the hill, too steep for medieval siege engines like towers or catapults, provided natural protection. Secondly, the fortress itself, reminiscent of a Russian matryoshka doll, featured two rows of walls separated by narrow, winding passages. This design kept enemies in a crossfire while giving them too little space to effectively use battering rams.
🚶Visit
Visiting the castle today feels like strolling through a vast scenic terrace. The view is impressive, with a sea of rooftops stretching far beyond the horizon below us. We are surrounded by thick defensive walls interspersed with turrets, which we can climb via narrow, uneven steps. The innermost courtyard, once heavily fortified, is now a simple square with trees growing in the center. Peacocks strut proudly through the grounds, their calls and majestic, multicolored tails reminding us that we are at a former palace, among royal birds. Some preserved rooms house exhibitions displaying local archaeological finds. All that remains of the former palace are its foundations.
✔ Planner
- The ticket booths are in front of the castle entrance, where there are usually long lines.
- There is a separate entrance for Lisboa Card holders.
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