St Stephen’s Castle – Maiden Tower

The earliest references to this site date back to the 11th century and mention a large rural estate, possibly fortified. For nineteen years, the fortress was in the possession of the monarch Afonso IX of León, after being conquered in the process of defending his daughter, Infanta D. Teresa. It was returned to the Portuguese crown in 1231, when the Sabugal peace agreement was signed. The strategic position of Santo Estêvão meant that some of the contacts between the two crowns passed through here, such as in 1253 when King Afonso III received his future wife, Beatriz.

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