Óbidos Castle

About this place

This medieval castle anchors the fortified town of Óbidos. Its walls and towers show how a compact settlement could be organised around a defensive stronghold. View the castle together with the surrounding streets to understand the connection between protection, settlement and authority. The castle makes most sense when considered together with the town it protected, rather than as a detached building. Its position at the settlement's edge helps explain the organisation of movement and defence. Looking from the streets toward the fortifications gives a sense of how closely ordinary urban life was linked with the presence of authority.