{"id":59328,"date":"2026-10-14T10:19:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T10:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realdreams.pt\/?post_type=to-visit&p=59328"},"modified":"2026-10-14T10:19:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T10:19:17","slug":"castro-marim","status":"publish","type":"to-visit","link":"https:\/\/realdreams.pt\/nl\/attractions-to-visit\/regions-of-portugal\/algarve-region\/castro-marim\/","title":{"rendered":"Castelo de Castro Marim"},"content":{"rendered":"

Castro Marim’s castle keeps one of the great crossroads of Portuguese history. From its hill above the Guadiana it watched Phoenicians, Romans and Moors pass, became the first home of the Order of Christ, and still looks across the river to Spain \u2014 while at its feet the salt marshes fill with flamingos and waders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First seat of the Order of Christ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Taken from the Moors in 1242, the town was fortified by Afonso III and, under King Dinis \u2014 who added the outer wall after losing Ayamonte to Castile \u2014 received a new charter in 1282. In 1319 the newly founded Order of Christ, heir to the Templars, installed its headquarters here, remaining until 1356 when the order moved to Tomar. The castle is a National Monument, with Roman and Iron Age layers below its quadrangular walls, and the older lanes of the village still climb to its gates. Below, the Reserva Natural do Sapal \u2014 the oldest nature reserve in Portugal, created in 1975 \u2014 spreads in salt pans and marsh; the Salinas de Castro Marim<\/a> still harvest salt by hand, and the fort of Cacela Velha<\/a> stands guard further along the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to see<\/h2>\n\n\n\n