Freemaps

Loulé Castle is of Arab origin, rebuilt in the century 13th, had a large walled perimeter, part of which is still visible.

It is thought that what would become the castle began in the century 8th, when the Muslims conquered it and the medieval city was born, which would generate the current historic city.

Al-'Ulya' (Loulé) is described for the first time in the Arab chronicles of Ibn Said and Abd Aluhaid, as a small fortified and prosperous Almedina (City), belonging to the Kingdom of Niebla, under the command of the Taifa Ibn Mafon.

In 1249, Dom Afonso III, aided by D. Paio Peres Correia, Knight and Master of the Order of Santiago, conquers the Castle of Loulé from the "Moors", making its full integration into the Portuguese Crown, when he grants the first charter to the "Village" in 1266.

With the cycle of Portuguese Discoveries, the Algarve region experienced a new spurt of economic growth, from which Loulé also benefited, exporting wine, olive oil, dried fruits, fish and salt. Thanks to these resources, from 1422 onwards, the castle walls were rebuilt by D. Henrique de Meneses, 1st Count of Loulé.

After the Restoration of independence, due to the evolution of artillery, the Castle lost its defensive value. In this way, urban growth gradually absorbed the old walls, a process that accelerated after the damage caused by the 1755 earthquake, which destroyed most of the town.

See also:
Loulé Museum - https://loule-museum.freemaps.net/en