Castle of Elvas
| Castle of Elvas (Castelo de Elvas) | |
| Fortification (Fortaleza) | |
 The main portico of the Castle of Elvas, showing the massive battlements
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| Official name: Castelo de Elvas | |
| Named for: Elvas | |
| Country |  Portugal |
|---|---|
| Region | Alentejo |
| Subregion | Alentejo |
| District | Portalegre |
| Municipality | Elvas |
| Location | Alcáçova |
| - elevation | 325 m (1,066 ft) |
| - coordinates | 38°53′.75″N 7°9′46.41″W / 38.8835417°N 7.1628917°WCoordinates: 38°53′.75″N 7°9′46.41″W / 38.8835417°N 7.1628917°W |
| Length | 98.93 m (325 ft), Northwest-Southeast |
| Width | 92.88 m (305 ft), Southwest-Northeast |
| Architects | Pedro Fernandes, João Cosmander, Luís Serrão Pimentel, Manuel de Azevedo Fortes, Afonso Mendes de Oliveira |
| Style | Medieval |
| Materials | Stone, Tile, Calcium oxide, Sand |
| Owner | Portuguese Republic |
| For public | Public |
| Visitation | Closed (Mondays and on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 December) |
| Easiest access | Flanking the town; from Fria, northwest of the town |
| Management | Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico |
| Operator | DRC Alentejo (Ordinance 829/2009; DR, Série II (163) 24 August 2009 |
| Status | National monument |
| Listing | Decree 27 September 1906; DG, Série I (228) 9 October 1906; Decree 16 June 1910; DG, Série I (136) 23 June 1910 |
The Castle of Elvas (Portuguese: Castelo de Elvas) is a medieval military fortification in Portugal, in the civil parish of Alcáçova, municipality of Elvas, part of a first line of defense in the Portuguese Alentejo, in conjunction with the military forts of Ouguela, Campo Maior, Olivença and Juromenha.
Between the 8th and 12th century Muslim forces occupied Elvas, resulting in the construction of the fortress. It was briefly conquered by forces loyal to Afonso Henriques around 1166, an action that was repeated in successive years with Moorish capture, and recapture, of the strategic point. In 1200 Sancho I encircled the citadel, and his successor, Sancho II made a tentative attempt to capture Elvas in 1226, at the same time Alfonso IX of León was trying to take Badajoz: although concerted, it was unsuccessful. This was followed in 1228 by another attempt, also unsuccessful, until 1230, after the castle and surrounding territory was abandoned by Muslim forces, who had received word that Alfonso IX had reached and was threatening Mérida.
The year before (1229) Sancho II had issued a foral (charter) for Elvas, which was later reaffirmed by King Afonso III in 1263. As a method of attracting further Iberian investments the concession of a fair, in 1262, helped to attract settlement to the region. This, along with further investments from the Crown resulted in the reconstruction of the castle and walled village between the 13th and 14th century, with the cerca Fernandina (walls of King Ferdinand), still under the reign of Afonso IV, that included 22 towers and 11 gates (including the important Gate of Olivença or Royal Gate).
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