For centuries, the Fortress of Juromenha held the honorable role of sentinel over the Guadiana River, which flows at its feet.
Its origins are very ancient. The occupation of this site dates back to Gallo-Celtic and Roman times. During the Iberian Peninsula’s history, it was taken by Muslims and served for two centuries as an advanced defensive post for the important city of Badajoz, under the command of the Caliphate of Córdoba. The settlement and castle were captured by the troops of D. Afonso Henriques in 1167, lost to the Muslims in 1191, and returned to Portuguese control in 1242.
The fortress of Juromenha was reinforced in the years following the Restoration of Independence on December 1, 1640, during the threat of a Spanish invasion. However, it was lost in 1662 and remained under Spanish control until the Treaty of Lisbon in 1668, when it returned to the Portuguese Crown.
The fortress suffered severe damage during the 1755 earthquake, but was later restored. During the War of the Oranges in 1801, it once again fell under Spanish control, returning definitively to Portugal in 1808. It was abandoned in 1920 due to the evolution of warfare technology.
Today, the Fortress of Juromenha is a site rich in history, though heavily degraded. Nonetheless, it remains highly recommended for visitors, offering a privileged view of the Guadiana River and the opposite bank, where Vila Real and Olivença can be seen.