Guimarães Castle with free visits on June 24th

Guimarães Castle and the Church of São Miguel do Castelo will open for free on June 24th, municipal holiday for Guimarães City.

Why visit this castle in the North of Portugal?

This will give the community and international visitors the opportunity to visit two of the most iconic historic sites. Guimarães Castle has a big historical significance due to the Battle of São Mamede (1128), a key moment in the foundation of Portugal as an independent kingdom.

Opposing the dependence on the Kingdom of León (part of Spain), Afonso Henriques (future first king of Portugal) allied himself with the nobility to take control of the County of Portucale or Condado Portucalense (the first Portuguese territory).

The young Afonso Henriques led the Portucalense barons against the army of his mother, Countess Teresa, and her ally and lover, the Galician nobleman Fernão Peres de Trava.

This victory enabled Afonso Henriques to assume control of the County of Portugal. This event paved the way for the unification and future independence of the territory, culminating in the birth of the Kingdom of Portugal.

When will Guimarães Castle be open?

The Castle and the Church of São Miguel do Castelo will be open to the public during their regular hours, with free admission. The Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, however, will be closed to the public.

The Paço dos Duques is currently undergoing renovation and restructuring work on its infrastructure and accessibility features. Some museum areas will not be open to visitors.

If you want, you can visit the castle and the church on another day. They should be open every day, except January 1, Easter Sunday, May 1, and December 25.

Tips

• Wear comfortable, non-slippery footwear (due to uneven stone surfaces, steps, and cobbled pathways)
• Take extra care when climbing the castle towers and walking along the permitted paths along the castle walls (especially during wet weather or a cold morning when surface may become slippery)
• Only walk on approved pathways
• Follow safety signs and avoid getting too close to the edge (people have fallen before)
• Respect the historic nature of the site by avoiding climbing on restricted structures
• Follow the rules
• Because there are free visits, avoid going on peak hours as it may be too busy and difficult to move