Castelo De Sao Jorge
- from EUR 15
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What's on here
À Descoberta do Castelo
Tuesday · All day
À Descoberta do Castelo
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À Descoberta do Castelo
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À Descoberta do Castelo
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À Descoberta do Castelo
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À Descoberta do Castelo
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À Descoberta do Castelo
Monday · All day
À Descoberta do Castelo
Tuesday · All day
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Why go
- The wall walk and towers rise above Lisbon.
- The Tower of Ulysses camera obscura shows Lisbon and the Tagus in a 360-degree view.
- The Royal Palace of Alcáçova survives in ruins.
- Excavations in the grounds reveal Phoenician, Roman and Moorish remains.
Opening hours
Today09:00 – 21:00Show all
Don't miss
- Tower of UlyssesFormerly Torre do Tombo, it held the kingdom’s records from 1378 until the 1755 earthquake.Tower of Ulysses
- Praça de ArmasFind the old cannons and a statue of Afonso Henriques, copied from a 19th-century original by António Soares dos Reis.Praça de Armas
- Main entrance gateLook for Portugal’s coat of arms, Queen Maria II’s name and the date 1846.Main entrance
- Casa OgivalOne of the rebuilt rooms of the former royal palace has five pointed arches.Casa Ogival
Know before you go
- Open daily from 09:00 to 21:00.
What's inside
- The permanent archaeological exhibition focuses especially on finds from the 11th and 12th centuries.
- Surviving palace walls and a few rebuilt rooms remain, including Casa Ogival, which houses Olissipónia, a multimedia show about Lisbon’s history.
Tips for your visit
- For an approach on foot, walk uphill from downtown through Alfama.
With kids
- Educational activities are designed for school groups, with content adapted to different age groups.
- The two large squares offer places to sit and pause during a visit.
Interesting facts5
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The rectangular castle has ten towers.
São Jorge Castle - Wikipedia (part 2) -
A dry moat partly surrounds the castle, crossed by a stone bridge at the main entrance.
São Jorge Castle - Wikipedia (part 2) -
A low barbican protects the south and east sides from siege engines.
São Jorge Castle - Wikipedia (part 2) -
1910
The castle became a National Monument on 16 June 1910.
Château Saint-Georges (Lisbonne) - Wikipedia -
Much of its present medieval appearance comes from the 1940s reconstruction, which rebuilt walls and raised towers.
Castelo de São Jorge - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
After the court moved to Paço da Ribeira in the 16th century, the former royal rooms became barracks. The castle later served as a prison. From 1780 to 1807, it housed Casa Pia, a training centre for orphans and beggars. Jean-Andoche Junot then used it as his headquarters.
- 8th century BCPeople occupied the castle hill by at least the 8th century BC.
- 2nd century BCThe earliest fortifications on the hill date to the 2nd century BC.
- 10th centuryBerber forces built fortifications on the hill.
- 1147Portuguese forces captured the castle from the Almoravids during the Siege of Lisbon.
- 1255After Lisbon became the kingdom’s capital, the castle served as a fortified royal residence.
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- Around 1300King Denis extensively renovated the castle, turning it into the Royal Palace of Alcáçova.
- late 14th centuryKing John I dedicated the castle to Saint George.
- 1498King Manuel I received Vasco da Gama at the castle after his return from India.
- 1502Gil Vicente staged a play at the castle to celebrate the birth of Manuel I’s heir.
- 1755The earthquake devastated the castle walls and soldiers’ hospital.
- 1930sRenovations removed later additions and partly restored the Recolhimento.
- 1940s and late 1990sMajor restoration campaigns restored the monument’s medieval appearance.
Sources: São Jorge Castle - Wikipedia · São Jorge Castle - Wikipedia (part 2) · Lisbon/Alfama - Wikivoyage (see) · Castelo de São Jorge - · Castle - Castelo de São Jorge · National Monument - Castelo de São Jorge · Castelo de São Jorge - Wikipedia · Château Saint-Georges (Lisbonne) - Wikipedia · Castelo de São Jorge - Wikipedia · Schools - Castelo de São Jorge · Educational Programme - Castelo de São Jorge · checked 28 Sep 2026
- Website
- castelodesaojorge.pt/
- Phone
- +351218800620
Questions and answers
How do I get to Castelo de São Jorge?
Bus 737 serves the castle. Its address is Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo.
Why is Castelo de São Jorge called São Jorge?
King John I dedicated the castle to Saint George in the late 14th century.
Who was Martim Moniz?
A later legend says he sacrificed his life to hold a castle gate open for his companions during the 1147 siege.
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