Leiria Castle, Portugal

On the last day of our stay in Alcobaca, we made a trip to Leiria, which is 31 km from Alcobaca. There is a regular bus service and it is a pleasant ride to Leiria. 

On alighting from the bus, and when you look around, you will be stunned to see the Leiria castle sitting atop the hill. It is so captivating that you cannot look away. There is something very magnetizing about this castle.

Here is a unique castle. Though built during the medieval period, it is not in ruins entirely. It has been beautifully restored in the 20th. century. It is a mixture of a castle comprising of royal palaces and a military base, the tower.

Road leading to the main entrance of Castle

 

Beautifully restored arched main gate, one finds a lovely path which keeps climbing. 

Inside the castle grounds, stand the ruins of The Church of Nossa Senhora de Pena, built in honour of Our Lady of Mercy and the Collegiada (buildings for the Church activities)

A beautiful terrace lined with potted plants greet the visitors!

As one reaches the Palace entrance, there is a pleasant surprise of huge urns and plants in them. The archway of the entrance door is restored to its former glory, I am sure. The bolt and the lock on the door look authentic.

 

As we stepped inside, we were in for a pleasant surprise, what you see are the floors, which are made of red bricks, the ceiling is in wood and completely new. There are twin windows, glazed, and window seats below them to enjoy the cool air and the distant view of the countryside. Special lighting is also arranged inside this space.

Adjacent to this main hall is a long and wide colonnaded verandah. Unusual arrangement of row of seats at the base of the delicate columns give the comfort of sitting at the same time views of the great outdoors.This area also seems to have been restored.

Sitting here on these lovely stone seating, one can visualise the beautiful and luxurious furniture and drapes, silverware, and plush carpets, beautiful paintings hanging from the stone walls, and discreet help at their beck and call.

From here, we could climb up the tower. You get a 360 degree view form here. From outside, it looks like a boring tower in stone construction belong to the medieval times; but once we entered, it is a different world altogether. What ever was kept inside this tower while the castle was in use, now, a four floor  structure is built in steel. At each level, there is display of armour, shields, swords and helmets etc. found here. 

I am truly impressed by the layout and the construction techniques of Leiria castle then, and equally if not not, more impressed by the restoration work done on it. It has come alive, gives us a glimpse of the bygone era, and it has taken on the look of a living Castle rather a bunch of ruins. One can easily spend half a day touring the castle.