The Alentejo landscape is littered with fortifications great and small, recalling the history of a people who, back in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, fought for the conquering and defence of their territory. Sited on the highest points of the undulating Alentejo plains, they offered their lords, sometimes the king himself, the mastery of a vast horizon that had to be defended.
Today, these forts and castles amount to a valuable architectural treasure of unrivalled tourist interest. Many of them still lodge visitors inside small, white washed villages; while others offer charming hotels and restaurants. But, all of them still show the splendour of the old times. They represent an important part of Portugal’s culture and identity. These forts and castles are today surrounded by vineyards that produce the renowned Alentejo wine, such as REAL FORTE (Royal Fortress), a typical wine from this region of southern Portugal.
