Cola Castle ( port. Castelo de Cola ) - the ruins of a medieval fortress in Portugal near the village of Orique , Alentejo .
| Castle | |
| Cola castle | |
|---|---|
| Castelo de cola | |
 | |
| A country |  Portugal |
| Village | Orique |
| Status | National monument |
| condition | satisfactory |
History
Archaeological studies show that the development of this region began during the Neolithic . Subsequently, the surroundings of the village of Orique were occupied by the Phoenicians and Carthaginians, and then by the Romans.
It is not possible to establish the time of construction of the castle. Historians believe that it was built at the beginning of Muslim rule, and during the Reconquista passed into the hands of the Portuguese in the reign of King Afonso III ( 1248 - 1279 ). The king ordered the walls of the castle to be repaired.
For unknown reasons, the castle was abandoned in the 16th century, which led to its destruction. On June 23, 1910 , the ruins of Kola Castle were declared a national monument. The pioneer of archaeological excavations here was Abel Viana, who became interested in the local legend of the lost enchanted Moorish treasure. Archaeological research begun by Viana in 1958 was suspended after his death in 1964 .
Architecture
The entrance to the dungeon was found in the stone ruins, however, it is now flooded, which makes it impossible to explore it. The remains of one of the towers, as well as the gate to the castle, have been preserved.