Paderne Castle
| Castle of Paderne (Castelo de Paderne) | |
| Castle (Castelo) | |
.JPG) A perspective of the tower gate, showing lateral wall and tower
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| Named for: Paderne | |
| Country |  Portugal |
|---|---|
| Region | Algarve |
| Subregion | Algarve |
| District | Faro |
| Municipality | Albufeira |
| Location | Paderne |
| - elevation | 73 m (240 ft) |
| - coordinates | 37°9′25.39″N 8°12′1.99″W / 37.1570528°N 8.2005528°WCoordinates: 37°9′25.39″N 8°12′1.99″W / 37.1570528°N 8.2005528°W |
| Length | 65.52 m (215 ft), Southwest-Northeast |
| Width | 58.65 m (192 ft), Northwest-Southeast |
| Architects | unknown |
| Styles | Roman, Berber, Moorish, Medieval |
| Materials | Sandstone, Taipa |
| Origin | 2nd Century |
| - Initiated | c. 713 |
| Owner | Portuguese Republic |
| For public | Public |
| Easiest access | Cabeço do Castelo, on the left margin of the Ribeira de Quarteira, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) south of Paderne |
| Management | Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico |
| Operator | DRCALGARVE, Decree 34/2007, 29 March 2007 |
| Status | Property of Public Interest |
| Listing | Decree 516/71, DG274 22 November 1971; ZEP, 978/99, DR215, 2º Série, 14 September 1999 |
The Castle of Paderne (Portuguese: Castelo de Paderne) is a 12th-century fortification located in the civil parish of Paderne, municipality of Albufeira, in the Portuguese Algarve. It was constructed in the later 12th century by Berbers, around 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) inland. The edifice is located just 8.2 kilometres (5.1 mi) from the resort town of Albufeira, along a bend in the Quarteira River. It is believed to be one of the original castles that occupy the shield of the Portuguese national flag.
Around the middle of the 2nd century, the Roman conquered the primitive Lusitanian castro, which had developed between Neolithic and Cacholithic. The settlement was transformed into a military outpost and, eventually, politico-administrative centre named Paderne or Paderna. Its location on a rocky peninsular bend was of strategic importance, as it controlled the ancient Roman road Via Lusitanorum crossing the Quarteira River on the south.
The Roman villa was conquered by the Moors by 713. On this site, the Almohads constructed a fortification. Concerned with advancing Christian armies from the north, the Almohads began an intensive period of military construction and fortification in the Algarve (in Paderne, Faro, Loulé and Silves and many other locations). The depopulation of the Muslim countryside, caused by Christian raids, while avoiding outright conflict, resulted in the construction of these type of fortifications, which were used secure relative safety for their citizens in the interior of the Algarvean Barrocal (mountains).
In 1189 the castle (Silves) was conquered by the armies of King Sancho I with the help of English-Christian mercenaries during a continuous night raid. In 1191 Muslim forces of the Almohad dynasty under the command of Caliph Abu Yusuf Ya’qub al-Mansur recaptured the castle and surrounding lands.
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