Duarte d’Armas and his “debuxos” (drawings) Monsanto

Monsanto

After the “Reconquista” (Reconquest) of the Tagus line (1149) by the troops of King “D.Afonso Henriques”, part of the effort to defend it fell to the Templars, who formed a defence line against Muslim incursions here. Donated in 1165, Monsanto was one of the first fortified places as part of this operation, although it returned to the crown in 1172. This romanesque phase, which is now vaguely recognisable in the citadel, was succeeded by a major gothic reform, between the late 13th and early 14th centuries, completely circling the summit. It was spared from works during the Restoration War but was extensively remodelled in the 19th century and damaged by the explosion of the armoury on a stormy day. An extensive restoration occurred in the 1940s and 1950s which resulted in its current form.