◎ St. George's Castle is located in the very center of Lisbon, on a high hill, and is visible from almost anywhere in the city. The castle operates as a museum and there is an entrance fee.
◎ From here it opens beautiful view to the center of Lisbon, the Tagus River and its South coast. On weekends, various events are often held inside the castle, such as training everyone in crossbow shooting.
◎ More than a dozen peacocks live here, walking freely among visitors, and there are a couple of coffee shops and a restaurant where you can have a snack, drink a glass of wine and enjoy the stunning view of the city.
St. George's Castle - history
◎ The first traces of human presence here date back to the 6th century. BC. and relate at least to the Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians. However, the chronicle dates back only to the time of the conquest of Spain by the Romans, who erected the first defensive structures here to protect against the Lusitanians and named the city Olisipo. Later, in 60 BC. Gaius Julius Caesar completed the conquest of Lusitania and gave the city the title Felicitas Julia, which allowed its inhabitants to receive all the privileges of Roman citizenship.
◎ Over the centuries, the city was attacked by barbarians and in the middle of the 5th century it was captured by the Suevi and later by the Visigoths. Later, in the 8th century, the city came under the rule of Muslims, who called it Al-Ushbuna or Lisbona. During the Muslim presence, the fortress underwent its first major restoration since the Romans. Subsequently, the city was constantly attacked during the reconquista, the reconquest by Christians of the lands of the Iberian Peninsula occupied by the Moors. And only in 1147, during the second crusade, Afonso I Henriques, the first king of Portugal after declaring its independence from the kingdom of Leon, managed to conquer the fortress and city after a three-month siege. The castle was named in honor of the holy martyr George the Victorious.
◎ In the 13th century, when Lisbon became the capital of the kingdom (1255), the castle of St. George became the royal residence and continued to remain so until the 16th century. Then the residence is moved to the newly built Ribeira Palace (Paço da Ribeira - river palace) on the site of the modern Plaza of Commerce (Praça do Comércio). From that time on, the castle was used as a prison and then as the headquarters of an organization for the protection of the rights of children and adolescents (1780-1807). ◎ In 1910, the castle was recognized as a national monument. The next major restoration work was carried out in 1940 and 1990.
Castle of St. George in Lisbon - how to get there
Sometimes the road to the castle can cause some difficulties for unprepared tourists.
Firstly: you have to go up, so wear comfortable shoes (it’s better to walk in Lisbon in soft shoes without heels) and take your time. Along the way, you can stop at your favorite cafe (pastelaria) and eat a traditional cake.
Secondly: It can be difficult for new travelers to find the road to the castle. We have made a small map for you with interesting route to the castle straight from the arch on (Praça do Comércio).
You will pass three old churches and the Lisbon cathedral, and also along the way there will be Observation deck. Don’t be afraid to deviate from your route and turn onto a street that interests you. There are many cozy and pretty alleys in this area.
Castle of St. George - ticket prices and opening hours:
Tickets: adult - 8.50 €, discount (students, under 25 years old, 65+) - 5 €, children under 10 years old - free
By card - 7.50€
The Castle of St. George in Lisbon is a wonderful historical building that for a long time served as a fortress wall protecting the Portuguese capital from foreign invaders. Its history has lasted for more than two thousand years and can easily tell about the most significant events in the history of the metropolis, including the devastating earthquake of 1755.
The long-standing historical building was erected by the Visigoths in the 6th century, then it belonged to the Romans, and then to the Moors and was rebuilt many times by their tribes. The latter, by the way, inhabited this territory for several centuries and made it their refuge. The liberation of the wall occurred only in 1147 thanks to the brave Portuguese monarch Afonso Henriques. Since then, the fortress was turned into a royal residence and was actively used by the rulers. It was here that the most significant events in the history of Portugal during the Great Period took place. geographical discoveries(the expeditionary victories of Vasco da Gama and other famous navigators were celebrated).
After the construction of a more luxurious castle in Baixa and the transfer of the residence there, the Palace of St. George was used as:
-theater
- prisons
- arsenal.
The earthquake of 1755, which turned it into ruins, had a particularly detrimental effect on the significance of the building. It was possible to breathe life into the old buildings only in 1938 under the rule of the harsh dictator Salazar. By order of the latter, the fortress walls were significantly restored, and not far from them a beautiful city park with several monuments, fountains and numerous green spaces was organized.
During the excursion to the Castle of St. George, you can walk along the fortress walls, enjoy the incomparable landscapes of the city opening from the roof of the palace, relax in the picturesque garden, delighting visitors with clean lakes with ducks, geese and peacocks.
It is worth noting that from the observation deck of São Jorge you can see not only the general panorama of the city and the tiled roofs of houses, but also consider some, in particular: the statue of Christ, Rossio Square, Praça do Comércio, the Santa Justa funicular and some others .
In addition, the building regularly hosts multimedia exhibitions telling the story. Among the projections there are videos about the journey of Vasco da Gama during the opening of the sea route to India, the events of the earthquake of 1755, a story about the fall of the Church of Carmo and other significant events that occurred in the Portuguese capital from the time of the Inquisition to the reign of Salazar.
Castle of St. George in Lisbon: opening hours
You can enjoy the incomparable interiors and openwork bas-reliefs of the castle during the season (from March to October) from 9 to 21, and in the absence of an influx of tourists (in the remaining months) - from 9 to 18. Despite the fact that, as a rule, the building is ready to receive guests daily and may be closed during national holidays.
Castle of St. George in Lisbon: ticket prices
The cost of visiting the beautiful medieval fortress will cost almost 9 euros for adults; for children you will have to pay about 5 euros. If you want to save money, if you go to the castle with a large family, you can buy a comprehensive family pass.
Castle of St. George in Lisbon: how to get there?
Located in the historical part of the city, the Alfama district, near the Tagus River embankment. You can get there in several ways:
— by metro (a hundred meters from the attraction there is the Martim Moniz underground transport stop)
- by tram on route No. 28 (necessary stop Miradouro de Santa Luzia)
- as a result of a scenic trip on the old Gloria ski lift.
Lovers of increased comfort can also use the services of taxi drivers who, for 10 euros, will take you to St. George's Castle from almost anywhere in the Portuguese capital.
Walking through the streets of ancient Lisbon, it is impossible not to pay attention to the prominent hill, “crowned” main fortress the Portuguese capital, visible even from the outskirts of the city. The Castle of St. George is located in such a prominent place that it inevitably attracts the attention of tourists, whose undying interest has made the “flagship” of Portuguese castles one of the most visited attractions in Lisbon.
From time immemorial, the highest of the seven hills of Lisbon was considered a strategic hill, so from ancient times it was “crowned” with fortifications that belonged to the Romans, then the Visigoths, then the Moors. The fortified “height” came under the rule of Portugal thanks to the first king of the state, who actively carried out the Reconquista. Afonso I Enriques in 1147, with the support of the crusaders, took the castle of the Moorish emir after a three-month siege. From then until the appearance of the Ribeira Palace in the 16th century, the liberated fortress served royal palace, and the liberator Afonso I Henriques was immortalized in the form of a statue located on the castle grounds.
The castle, whose name in Portuguese sounds like Castelo de São Jorge, in the 14th century under King João I received the name of St. George the Victorious, patron of knights and crusades. And such a renaming is considered no coincidence, associating it with the establishment of close relationships with England, whose patron saint is traditionally considered St. George.
After the more elegant Ribeira Palace was preferred to the rough fortress, the Castle of St. George was allocated for military needs, and was used as barracks, and over time it was completely reclassified as a prison, which did not have the best effect on the safety of the ancient structure. After all this, as well as after the devastating earthquake of 1755, the fortification structure needed restoration, which was carried out twice in the 20th century.
Severe rectangular towers, wide battlements, an impenetrable dry ditch - here it is, a formidable castle with a genuine military past. And hidden inside it is a real oasis - on an area of 6,000 square meters there are two parks where different types of trees coexist: pines, oaks, olive trees and many other types of vegetation. Among all this park greenery, peacocks flash with their motley plumage, and white swans slowly sway on the glittering surface of the reservoirs.
In 1910, the Castle of St. George was recognized as a National Monument of Portugal. Now, in addition to regular excursions, ceremonial events, various performances and exhibitions are held here, among which a wide collection of iconography is of particular interest.
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The historical core of the capital of Portugal, the Lisbon Kremlin, the Castle of St. George calmly observes the life of the city through the narrow loopholes and square battlements of its thousand-year-old walls. Ancient fortress Romans, Visigoths and Moors came under the command of the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, in 1147 - and since then every Portuguese has revered it as the basis of statehood. Today, St. George's Castle welcomes tourists with the peace and coolness of its shady courtyard, an impressive collection of medieval cannons and breathtaking panoramic views of the red mosaic of Lisbon's tiled roofs, intercepted by the blue ribbon of the Tagus River. The educational and entertainment component here is provided by the archaeological museum, restaurant and camera obscura in one of the towers of the fortress.
A little history
Castle of St. George traces its history back to the turn of the old and new eras: first there was a fortress of the Romans, then the Visigoths, and then the Moors. In 1147, the crusaders, led by Afonso Henriques, captured the castle, expelling the Moors, and began to the Portuguese state. Until the 16th century, the fortress was a royal residence.
What to see
You can appreciate the appearance of the castle from afar: the fortress is clearly visible from almost anywhere in the city. The battlements of its powerful walls stand out clearly against the blue Portuguese sky, and the foundation seems to have merged with the high hill above the Tagus River.
As you rise to the entrance to the castle, you will certainly notice the massiveness and at the same time laconic symmetry of its structure with many architectural elements: a circular moat with an arched bridge, two tiers of fortress walls with a gallery, 18 corner and watchtowers and a powerful barbican - an external fortification bastion.
The entrance to the territory of St. George's Castle lies through the main fortress gate. Once through the massive wooden doors, you will find yourself in a quiet courtyard planted with lush greenery, in the shade of which there are benches and peacocks, geese and ducks wandering around. Here you will be greeted by a statue of King Afonso Henriques (this glorious statesman recaptured the castle from the Moors) and a series of medieval guns - a reminder of the formidable days in the history of the fortress. Little remains of the inner palace, the residence of the Portuguese rulers: the stone building now houses a restaurant. Walking around it, you will see the entrance to the underground archaeological museum, in three halls of which finds on the territory of the fortress are presented from ancient times to the 18th century. A multimedia show about the history of Lisbon, Olyssiponia, is also shown here.
In one of the halls of the current archaeological museum the most famous Portuguese, Vasco da Gama, once appeared before King Manuel.
St. George's Castle (Castelo de São Jorge) or the best observation deck in Lisbon
Knowing that St. George's Castle is one of the main attractions of Lisbon, we definitely decided to visit it. The castle stands on top of a hill in the historical part of the city, at an altitude of more than 100 meters and is therefore visible from almost everywhere.
Path to the castle
Initially, our ascent to the fortress was planned in a lightweight version, namely on the red tourist tram from the stop in Figueira Square. In addition, travel on it is free if you have a valid tourist ticket. Yellow bus. But at the stop we met an incredible queue of people wanting to ride. Deciding not to waste time, we went on foot and didn’t regret it for a second.
Turning from Figueira Square onto the street Rua da Madalena and after passing several houses, we saw a funny staircase-street with graffiti.
A miraculous staircase took us several tiers higher, from where we slowly continued our ascent to the castle, without ceasing to enjoy the local flavor of the quarter Bairro do Castelo.
Other ways to get to the castle: trams 12 and 28 (Miradouro de Santa Luzia stop), metro (Martim Moniz station).
Impressions of the castle
I will not go into historical details, which many reviews are full of even without me, but will tell you about my impressions from the point of view of a lazy contemplative tourist. Sometimes you really don’t want to load your head with information that is useful, but so quickly forgotten by many of us, right?
The fortress itself does not make much of an impression. Of the buildings, mostly only the walls and towers themselves have been preserved. And even then they were restored after the devastating earthquake of 1755 only during the restoration in 1938. 
But at the same time, the atmosphere inside is very pleasant and peaceful. The area has a lot of greenery, courtyards and.....peacocks! Yes, they casually walk around the entire territory with absolutely royal equanimity. They are not afraid of people and beg food from tourists. Well, just like pigeons. And it turns out they can fly))
To fully experience the magnificence of the opening views of the city, sit down at the stone tables on the fortress wall, break away from the bustle of the city and be alone with this peaceful beauty.
A glass of port from the “Wine with view” kiosk will put you in an even more romantic mood.
Is it worth a visit?
Definitely “YES”! Castle of St. George is worth a visit for the fantastic views of Lisbon. Walking along the fortress walls, you will get a panoramic view of this magnificent, calm and unique city.
The views are simply breathtaking. Cozy tiled roofs basking under the southern sun, narrow streets, the Tagus River hugging Lisbon. I want to look at all this and look at it. And if you are already a little familiar with the city, then, like on a three-dimensional map, it will be easy for you to find its main attractions. This is Commerce Square, Rossio and Figueira squares, the statue of Christ on the opposite bank of the Tagus River, the Santa Justa elevator, the ruins of the church of the Monastery do Carmo and some others.
And in the evening you can still see a beautiful sunset from here.
Here you can see the Commerce Square and the statue of Christ on the opposite bank of the river. Tagus 
In the center you can see the ruins of the church of the Monastery of Do Carmo and the Santa Justa elevator 
The 25th of April Bridge leading to the statue of Christ is visible 
