Saturday 7 November 2020

LINDOSO (PORTUGAL)

 


LINDOSO
41° 51' 54" N; 8° 11' 57" W

Lindoso is a Portuguese parish in the municipality of Ponte da Barca, currently consisting of three places, Cidadelhe, Parada, and, finally, the place of Lindoso, with 46.48 km² in area and 427 inhabitants (2011). Its population density is 9.2 inhabitants / km².

The Lindoso Castle is located in the parish and place of Lindoso, Ponte da Barca municipality, Viana do Castelo district, in Portugal.
Overlooking the lands of Spain, in a dominant position in the Serra Amarela, on the left bank of the river Lima, this castle was erected from the ground up, in the Middle Ages, with the function of the watchman, defense, and landmark of the sovereignty of the border.
During the time of the Restoration of Portuguese independence, the castle and its location gained importance in view of its border location. For this reason, the location was used as a support base in the context of Portuguese incursions in Galicia by the military forces of Portugal in September 1641. As the war progressed, the castle received modernization and restoration works, which were completed around 1666 (date inscribed on the lintel of a door). It was only three years after briefly falling into the hands of Spanish troops. It is believed that the works have been dragged for a few more decades since 1720 to date of completion of the main ravelin that defends the main entrance.
The structure is constructed using stone masonry walls, the top of which is surrounded by a battlement. The north and south ends of the tower are accessible by doors opened by a drawbridge.
The keep still stands, having been divided into two floors.