Castle Anciins

The settlement of the region began during the Eneolithic period . Until the XI century, it was in the hands of the Visigoths , then the Romans and Muslims.

In the middle of the XI century, during the Reconquista, the village of Carrazeda di Anciaines was part of the kingdom of Leon and received Fueros from King Ferdinand I.

In the mid-12th century, the region came under Portuguese control. Fueros Carrazeda di Anciaines was confirmed in 1160 by King Afonso Enriques ( 1112 - 1185 ), and then in 1198 by Sanshu I ( 1185 - 1211 ), in 1219 by Afonso II ( 1211 - 1123 ) and in 1510 by Manuel I ( 1495 - 1521 ). The growth of the village and its regional significance is confirmed by the establishment of a fair in it in 1277 by decree of Afonso III ( 1248 - 1279 ). Some authors argue that, a significant part of the fortifications of the village was built during the reign of King Joao I ( 1385 - 1433 ).

Here was born Lopu Vaz de Sampaillou, Governor of Cochin ( 1524 - 1526 ) and Governor General of Portuguese India ( 1526 - 1529 ).

Not earlier than the 17th century, the fortifications of Ansiens acquired their final form, including the so-called Fortim do Cubo - Square Fort - and ravelin . The names of the towers of the fortress are preserved: Torre dos Lameiros, da Torre do Sol, da Porta de São Francisco, da Porta de São João, da Porta da Fonte Vedra . However, in less than a century, the village lost its strategic importance and began to decline.

By decree of June 23, 1910 , the castle was declared a national monument. In 1960 , work began on the restoration of fortifications under the auspices of the Directorate General for National Buildings and Monuments (DGEMN). The castle is currently assigned to the regional directorate of the Portuguese Institute of Architectural Heritage (DRP-IPPAR). When planning the tourist region "Southern Douro", about 800,000 euros were spent on the restoration of the castle ruins, which allowed in 2006 to conduct the first tour of the monument.

The castle has a polygonal layout, reinforced by five quadrangular towers, two of which protect the main gate of Porta de São Salvador . The castle’s donjon inside is divided into two floors, the upper one has windows. Of the buildings along the walls, only the small church of San Salvador de Anciaines in the Romanesque style has been preserved.

Outside the castle walls, the village is surrounded by a second line of walls 600 m long, fortified with three square towers. In total, the castle covers an area of ​​about 9594 ha.

• AGUILAR, José. Carrazeda de Ansiães e seu Termo . Carrazeda de Ansiães (Portugal), 1980.
• LOPES, Flávio. Património arquitectónico e arqueológico classificado: Distrito de Bragança . Lisboa, 1993.
• MORAIS, João Pinto; MAGALHÃES, António de Sousa Pinto. Memórias de Ansiães . Carrazeda de Ansiães (Portugal), 1985.
• PEREIRA, António Luís (2011) - “O Castelo de Ansiães: Contributo para o Estudo da Idade Média no Vale do Douro”. Cristãos e Muçulmanos na Idade Média Peninsular - Encontros e desencontros. " Lisboa. p. 297-308.
• PEREIRA, António Luis; LOPES, Isabel Alexandra Justo (2008) - “Carrazeda de Ansiães - Terra com Marcas do tempo”. Carrazeda de Ansiães: Câmara Municipal de Carrazeda de Ansiães.
• PEREIRA, António Luis; LOPES, Isabel Alexandra Justo (2008) - “Castelo de Ansiães - 5000 anos de História”. Carrazeda de Ansiães: Câmara Municipal de Carrazeda de Ansiães.
• PEREIRA, António Luis; LOPES, Isabel Alexandra Justo (2005) - Património Arqueológico do Concelho de Carrazeda de Ansiães. Carrazeda de Ansiães: Câmara Municipal de Carrazeda de Ansiães.
• PEREIRA, António Luis (2001) - Vila Medieval de Ansiães: cabeça de um território situado entre o rio Tua eo Rio Douro. No prelo.
• PEREIRA, Luis; SOARES, Nuno (2000) - A Intervenção arqueológica na Vila Medieval de Ansiães. Actas do 2º Congresso Internacional sobre o rio Douro, Vol. I. Vila Nova de Gaia.
• PEREIRA, António Luis; SOARES, Nuno Miguel (1997) - Ansiães, um povoado com rupturas no seu processo histórico? . “DOURO - Estudos e Documentos”. Porto 4, p. 63-76.
• PEREIRA, António Luis; SOARES, Nuno Miguel (1996b) - O Castelo de Ansiães, Boletim da Câmara Municipal de Carrazeda de Ansiães, Carrazeda de Ansiães, 1996.
• PEREIRA, António Luis; SOARES, Nuno Miguel (1996a) -A intervenção Arqueológica na Vila Medieval de Ansiães, “DOURO - Estudos & Documentos.” Porto. p. 281-283.
• PEREIRA, Ricardo Manuel Paninho. De Ansiães a Carrazeda de Ansiães . Carrazeda de Ansiães (Portugal), 1991.
• VERDELHO, Pedro. Roteiro dos Castelos de Trás-os-Montes . Chaves (Portugal), 2000.
• Tesouros Artísticos de Portugal . Lisboa, 1976.
• "Castelo de Ansiães visitável até 2006". in O Informativo , 10 de janeiro de 2005.

• Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico (IHRU)
• Centro Interpretativo do Castelo de Ansiães
• Vídeo promocional - um concelho que sabe bem receber (link not available)