From Olhão : Private Half-Day Parderne Castle Walk with a Local Guide

We will walk along the Agibre River while exploring its fauna and flora. Discover the moorish Paderne Castle, built of Taipa, an ancient technique of construction, very rarely used in military architecture in Portugal.

It’s one of the original 7 castles present in the shield of the Portuguese flag. Its location had strategic importance, as it controlled the ancient Roman road, crossing the Algibre River, connected with the Via Lusitanorum.

Built in the Almohad period, at a late stage of the Islamic presence in the Algarve (12th century or first decades of the 13th century), this rural fortress is a paradigm of Muslim military mud architecture in Portugal.

Contrary to what occurred in previous times, in which the military network was primarily centered in the cities, the progressive advances of the Portuguese kingdom led to the construction of a second fortified line, made up of medium-sized rural fortresses. Located between the important cities of Silves and Loulé, Paderne Castle thus controlled an important passage between the interior and the Algarve coast.

In the small enclosure there was a shed surrounded by a robust wall, whose access door was protected by an albarrã tower. The narrow streets had a sewage system that carried wastewater and rainwater outside the wall and the blocks were made up of houses with a central courtyard.

After the Christian conquest, in 1248, by the knights of the Order of Santiago, the new occupants adapted the initial urban model. Inside, among the ruins of houses, two cisterns bear witness to the two main periods of occupation of the castle: Islamic and Christian.

The transfer of the kingdom of Algarve to the Portuguese crown determined the progressive abandonment of this important military stronghold, which was heavily damaged by the 1755 earthquake.

Paderne Castle is identified as one of the seven castles represented on the flag of Portugal.

In a group, a maximum of 8 people can go in the van, the price will always be for a private group !

This activity is suitable for visitors staying in Olhão / Faro area. Visitors staying outside of this area, an alternative meeting point will be arranged.

Timing recommendation : All year round