The Arraiolos Castleor Paço dos Alcaides, is a 14th century castle located in the central Alentejo. Although it's not the largest castle in the region, it has a curious and almost unique feature that makes it stand out in an area of the country with so many buildings of this type: its floor plan is circular.
Anyone arriving in the town of Arraiolos (or passing through the surrounding region) can't miss the Arraiolos Castle, which stands out proudly on the landscape, atop Monte de São Pedro.
Historically, Arraiolos Castle has played several roles. It was built in 1306 by King Dinis, encompassing the population within its walls. It was later the county of D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, 2nd Count of Arraiolos, who lived here for many years.
Due to the cold and wind resulting from its location, it ended up losing many of its inhabitants. To try to keep some of the population inside, the walls began to be closed every night after the bell rang, which continued for several dozen years.
However, the population ended up spreading to the surrounding hillsides and three centuries after it was built, the castle began to be looted for materials, eventually ending up in ruins.
It was during the reign of King João IV that it underwent a major intervention, with remodeling works, but it ended up being in ruins again, increased by the earthquake of 1755. Between 1959 and 1963 it was partially restored by state intervention, reaching the appearance it still has today.
Access to the Castle is through the middle of the town of Arraiolos and is completely open, so you can take your car inside the wall - there are even people who drive their cars inside the wall, but we recommend leaving the car at the entrance to the wall and exploring on foot, to avoid the degradation of an already somewhat weakened structure.
Exploring the inside of the wall, you'll first see breathtaking 360º views. Also take some time to explore the structure of what was once the castle (although it's already a bit dilapidated) and the 16th century Church of the Savior, in the central and highest part of the wall.
On the day we visited the Castle, the church was closed, so we can't say much about what it looks like inside, but we heard people in the area comment that the church was in need of some restoration work (in 2021).
Nowadays, the Porta da Vila is no longer visible inside the wall, but we can still see the Porta de Santarém (surrounded by two turrets), facing the Church of the Savior.
Arraiolos Castle is therefore a quick destination to visit, but one that we highly recommend for those passing through the town as it is easily accessible and has an incredible view over the wonderful Alentejo.
Beyond Arraiolos Castle: the Village of Carpets
It's impossible to talk about Arraiolos Castle and not think of the Arraiolos carpets, which have made this small town one of the best known in the region. So, take the opportunity to stroll around and get to know the streets of this magnificent town, starting with the historic center, where you'll find some of the most important buildings and, of course, the Portuguese sidewalk to the arraiolos carpet - a work measuring 7.80 meters by 5.40 meters and hundreds of stones. If you want to learn a little more about this art form, you can always visit the Arraiolos Carpet Interpretive Center (which costs €1 / adult for the free visit and €2 / adult for the visit with audio guide).
If you continue to wander the streets, you'll realize that there's no shortage of places to see in Arraiolos, so we really recommend that you park the car and take an hour to wander the streets and get to know all the heritage to be found here. If you're the type of person who likes to plan your visits in detail, you can always explore the page dedicated to Arraiolos: tourism in the town of Arraiolos and get to know what the region has to offer.
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