The castle of Estremoz is the result of the restoration of the magnificent Palace that King D. Diniz built for his wife- Queen Santa Isabel. The high quality of building materials used- has been completed with the finest decor including museum pieces. From the private palace gardens and swimming pool surrounded by battlements- you have the most superb view over the city of Estremoz and the vast Alentejo plain. In 1259- D. Afonso III recognized the geo strategical situation of Estremoz- granted it a charter in Santarem and the castle was founded. From the beginning- the castle has been associated with the Tower- thought to be the work of three kings - D. Afonso IV- D. Pedro and D. Fernando. This is the origin of the traditional name - Tower of the Three Crowns - symbolized by the marble pinnacle in the East corner of the upper terrace. A few years later- D. Dinis ordered the building of his residence here. Around 1281- he sent ambassadors to Aragon to ask for the hand of the Infanta D. Isabel- later Queen and Saint. At the end of June 1336- striving for peace and harmony in the kingdom- Isabel came to Estremoz. Tired after two long journeys - from Compostela to Coimbra and from there to Estremoz - by the weight of her years and the sultry hot weather- she fell seriously ill. Despite the care of her son and daughter-in-law- the knowledge of her physicians and the devotion of the Franciscan monks- the illness did not let up and she died on the 4th of July. The Saint Queens grandson- D. Pedro- the lover of the beautiful Ines- also chose this quiet palace in the time of his sorrow. According to the tradition- he was offering his heart to this place- when he suddenly died. D. Fernando and D. Leonor Teles chose the Palace of Estremoz as a safe hiding place for Count Andeiro- who was politically involved with Castile and England. Tradition says that it was in one of the chambers of the Tower that they started their affair- while the king was having his siesta. Leonor Teles
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