Guimaraes

#159 Castelo de Guimarâes
Guimarâes, Minho, Portugal
Mid-10th century, 1130 plus restorations
This is NOT an official Lego site

The first castle of Guimarâes was built by Mumadona Dias, Countess of Portugal from 924 to 950. She was the aunt of King Ramino II of León. She built a monastery at Guimarâes, but found it prone to attack both by Normans from the north and Moors from the south. The castle was built to protect the monastery. It is not noted whether the first castle was made of wood or stone or both... Over the next century and a half the castle apparently did its duty, but Portugal remained a province of the Spanish Kingdom of Castile & León. We move to the late 11th century: Henrique of Burgundy was born in 1066. As a younger son of the heir of Robert I, Duke of Burgundy, he had little chance of fortune or titles by inheritance. He therefore joined the Reconquista campaign of his uncle King Afonso VI of Castile & León against the Moors in the Iberian peninsula.

Henrique was so successful in his military role that he was allowed to marry King Afonso the Brave's illegitimate daughter Teresa, Countess of Portugal, in 1093 and thus received as dowry the County of Portugal, fiefdom of the Kingdom of León. Henrique had 6 children, including 3 sons, but the only one to survive infancy was the scrawny and crippled infant Afonso Henriques, born in 1109. At the death of his father in 1112, the youth under the tutelage of his mother Teresa, became Count of Portugal. By age 11 the young Count, growing stronger each year and discarding his youthful infirmities, became a thorn in his mother's side! He sided with the Archbishop of Braga, and both he and the Archbishop were exiled! At 14 with the age of manhood upon him, Afonso Henriques declared himself a knight. He gathered an army and at the Battle of São Mamede in 1128 (near Guimarâes) rested northern Portugal from his mother's control, declaring himself Prince of Portugal in 1129.

Afonso Henriques chose Guimarâes as his headquarters, but the old castle of Mumadona Dias was much decayed. He removed the old castle and rebuilt the Castelo de Guimarâes about 1130 much in the form it is seen today. He then turned his attention to the Moors. On July 26, 1139 he defeated the Moors at Ourique, declaring himself King Afonso I of Portugal! Guimarâes Castle was the his headquarters until his death in 1185. Eventually Guimarâes became a state prison and was recommended for demolition in 1836. However the castle was not destroyed and in 1881 Guimarâes was listed as the most unique historical site in Minho. In 1910 the castle was declared a national monument, and from 1937-40 major restoration returned the Castelo de Guimarâes to its historic place of honor.


The north tower seen from near the entrance to the donjon	A close-up of the bridge into the donjon	The northeast tower	The west tower	Detail of the stairs of the north tower with its door into the residence

Photos of the Lego Model under construction in August 2017

Construction began on August 1 with the usual outlining of the castle, allowing me to adjust baseplates. For the first time I'll be using Google Earth to walk around the...	...current castle to recreate the rocky terrain upon which Guimarâes rests. It's an interesting challenge!	I began at the north end of the castle, where a town gate is just below the North Tower. It's the lowest point near the castle...	...allowing me to "walk" up the slope, constructing the hill, huge boulders and the base of the curtain wall as I go. This is the end of day 3.


By the end of August 5, the gross landscaping is complete.	I can now turn my attention to the castle's unusual courtyard.	But first a grid of supports and beams must be laid out.	I never do this beforehand: It's fun to figure out the most efficient way to support the courtyard, curtain walls, donjon, etc.


By the end of August 7, much of the substructure and courtyard are done...	...with the donjon and residential range outlined, and the difficult south end saved for last.	Two more days of build shows progress on the dual stairs to the wall walk level...	...and great strides at the town entrance at the base of the south tower.


Two weeks after building began, the larger entrance is complete.	The donjon and residential range are up to the 2nd level, with the double staircase complete.	The wall walk reaches the south tower door...	...and the west tower is finished. The next pictures will be the completed model!

Photos of the Lego Model Built August 2017

On August 23 the castle is completed. Here's the view from the much photographed east side.	The view from the south- east highlights the town entrance through the south tower, now blocked.	The SSW view features both the exit of the tunnel, and the huge boulders of the castle's hilltop.	The west side the Guimarâes accents both the west tower and the town entrance to the castle.


The view from the north- west highlights the steps to the town wall originating amongst the rocks.	The north view shows both the north tower, and the residential range, the exterior still intact.	The northeast tower is the feature of this view. Only the NE and south towers contain a room.	This is my best shot at showing the tunnel under the south tower.


Here is the completed double staircase to the wall walk, tower rooms, residential accommod- ations and donjon entrance!	The Learning Channel's "Great Castles of Europe" show featuring Guimarâes said a drawbridge guarded the donjon entrance. There is no sign of one now.	Here's the back of the north tower, which leads into the residential range.	Finally, this is my idea of what the residential range would have looked like nine hundred years ago.

Build Your Own

Lego Plan [I may or may not get these scanned...]


Floor Plan	Drawing of West Elevation


Front Elevation	Back Elevation