From War Machine to Ruined Village | Juromenha

On the banks of the Guadiana River, on the Alentejo border, stands one of Portugal’s most impressive yet long-forgotten fortresses: the Fortress of Juromenha. In this video, we journey through the history of this extraordinary place, from its strategic importance on the border to the marks left by the Islamic world, the Reconquista, the War of Restoration and centuries of neglect. Amidst walls, bastions, ruins, empty churches and views over the river, Juromenha reveals itself as an ancient military stronghold where geography, war and memory intersect. We explore the fortress’s evolution, its relationship with the Guadiana and the border, the defensive structures that still mark the landscape, the ruins of the old walled town, the Parish Church of Nossa Senhora do Loreto, the Church of the Misericórdia, the explosion of the gunpowder magazine in 1659, the decline of the fortress, and the recent restoration campaign that has restored this monument to its former grandeur. This is the story of the Juromenha Fortress, guardian of the border and of memories that neglect had almost erased. Filmed, edited, narrated and written by Carlos de Figueiredo. #Juromenha #PortugalHistory #PortugueseHeritage #Alentejo #ForgottenFortress #BorderFortress Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 2:02 - Geographical location 3:31 - Human presence in the region 4:15 – Juromenha during the Islamic period 5:07 – The Islamic rammed earth wall 6:35 – Architectural superimposition 7:35 – Juromenha and the Reconquista 8:40 – The town receives a charter from King Dinis 9:05 – Juromenha in the ‘Book of Fortresses’ 10:01 – The War of Restoration and the construction of the bastioned fortress 12:18 – Characteristics of the fortress 14:09 – The old town within the walls 17:10 – The explosion of the gunpowder magazine in 1659 18:16 - Juromenha from the 17th to the 20th century 19:31 - Decline in importance and abandonment 20:54 - The consolidation and restoration of 2025 22:18 - Conclusion