All language subtitles for Castelos - Segredos, Mistérios e Lendas - S01E04 - Portugal

Fortress...

Prisons...

Towers...

The castles have witnessed
our history for centuries.

In Europe,
over 100,000 are still standing

thousand years later.

Let's visit the most spectacular
and most mysterious castles.

We will discover the secrets
that are hidden behind their walls.

And we will relive
their long-lasting legends.

This Castle-Palace is quite a symbol
in Portugal.

30 kilometres from Lisbon,
rising majestically above Sintra,

a city of historic worship
and the country's tourist centre...

is the Pena Palace.

From its lofty position,

it dominates and controls an area

where we find defensive
constructions,

curious palaces and their legends

and mysterious Masonic occultist
constructions and Templar origins.

Is there any link
between these constructions

that stand so close to each other?

Commissioned by King Ferdinand II
of Portugal

as a holiday residence in 1839,

the Pena Palace is a huge mixture
of styles and exoticism

that makes it special.

We know that Ferdinand II,
of German descent,

was Grand Master of the order
of the Rosicrucians,

a secret order born in Germany
that had links with the Masons.

The order of the Rosicrucians

claims to seek through the occult,
sciences and esotericism

the mysteries of the universe
and of nature,

transmitted
from the most ancient times,

including from Ancient Egypt.

To be an active member,

apart from having a pure bloodline

and demonstrating excellence
in culture,

there are a number of initiation
rites that must be performed.

And in that context, just a short
distance from the Pena Palace,

we find the initiation well
in the Quinta da Regaleira.

This mysterious estate,

full of passageways,
mazes and esoteric symbols,

was created by Antonio Augusto
Carvalho Monteiro,

born to Portuguese parents
and known as "the Millionaire".

He bought the land in 1892
and built this visual delight

which is a main attraction
in Sintra,

but also a place of Masonic worship
that conceals meanings

related to alchemy, the Templars
and the Rosy Cross.

The most striking feature
is this curious structure.

It has the name of "initiation well"
because apparently

initiation rites for new members
of the order were held here.

It is an inverted
27-metre-high tower.

It can be accessed from the top

or from several tunnels
that emerge at the base.

At the base
we can see an eight-point star

which originates
in the Templar symbol.

The order's aim was for new members

to pass through these tunnels
in the dark

to find the light projected
from the mouth of the well.

This was a symbolic reference.

The initiate was searching
for the unknown,

leaving behind his previous life,

increasing his knowledge
as he climbed up the tower staircase.

There were two entrances in the park
leading to the well.

Both are winding and labyrinthine,

and although they are now lit,

back then,
they were in complete darkness.

Passing through the tunnels
meant overcoming earthly obstacles.

The climb out of the well's
27-metre depth

was up a staircase
dotted with Romanesque arches,

and there are nine
clearly differentiated levels,

a figure associated
with the nine levels of hell

in Dante Alighieri's
"Divina Commedia".

The well can also be visited
in reverse, from top to bottom,

but doing it like this meant
risking a fall back into darkness.

In fact, one of the tunnels leads
directly to an unfinished well,

a ruined replica that symbolises
that the reverse route has no exit.

Were there tunnels
connecting the Quinta da Regaleira

with the Pena Palace?

Ferdinand II and Carvalho Monteiro
shared the Order of the Rosicrucians

just a few years apart.

Some say that the huge gardens
conceal mazes and passageways

that were used in olden times.

The Quinta da Regaleira
is not the only spot in the area

that has elements in common
with Templar symbols and numerology.

Just a few hundred metres away
stands the National Palace of Sintra,

another peculiar construction

with its recognisable image
of two enormous chimneys

that have become an icon
of the city.

Inside, the octagonal figure
is present in much of its decoration.

The number eight
and its geometric representation

is highly reminiscent
of the Templars.

The National Palace was a royal
residence from the Middle Ages,

once it had been reconquered.

King John I of Portugal
enjoyed it for years,

and that period has passed down to us
the curious "legend of the magpies".

Apparently, the queen caught the king
kissing a lady-in-waiting.

In his surprise at being caught,
he replied "foi por bem",

which means "for the good of all".

The phrase rapidly became
an object of derision

among the ladies of the court.

In the face of this laughter
and rumours,

the king ordered that a room
in the palace

be decorated with 136 magpies
painted on the ceiling,

in honour of all the ladies
in the court

who had gleefully spread the gossip.

Nowadays it is known as
the "Sala de las Urracas"

or "Magpie Room".

Years before giving rise
to the legend of the "urracas"

as King of Portugal,

John I was engrossed in reconquering
his lands from the Spanish armies.

The period was the middle
of the 14th century.

The "Castle of the Moors" was
a very difficult fortress to conquer

because of its position
on a steep rocky outcrop

in the mountain range
surrounding Sintra.

Very close by is the Pena Palace..

and, at the bottom of the valley,
the National Palace.

It was defended by a mayor
loyal to the Spanish crown.

A detachment attempted to attack it.

But before they arrived,

a tremendous storm broke above them

and the troops were forced
to retreat to Lisbon.

King John I, in one of his phrases
recorded for posterity,

justified it by saying

that "It was not God's will to
conquer the castle at that moment."

The Castle of the Moors
owes its name to the Arab presence

during the Muslim conquest
of the Iberian Peninsula.

They built a first fortification
between the 8th and 9th centuries,

and for the rest of its history,

it was alternately controlled
by Spanish and Portuguese.

This water tank or cistern

for the water
emanating from the spring in the rock

dates from the Arab period.

The water was used
to supply the troops,

which made any siege complicated.

The design and the strength
of the cistern is admirable

if we bear in mind
that we are talking about something

that was built more
than a thousand years ago.

In the 12th century,

after great victories
on the battlefield,

Afonso Henriques acceded
to the throne of Portugal.

Just as John I would do later,

he sent a group of 20 soldiers
to take Sintra Castle.

Apparently,
the soldiers were terrified

because there were few of them

and they knew about
the Arabs' fighting abilities.

And this gave rise
to the legend of Melides.

When the soldiers
were at their most wary,

the legend has it that
the Virgin Mary appeared to them.

"Do not be afraid because you were
20 but you were a thousand.

"You were a thousand
because you were 20."

After five days in hiding,

they defeated
the ferocious Arab soldiers.

Nowadays,
the vegetation planted subsequently

has gradually taken over

and it is difficult to make out
the castle's winding structure.

But the climb up the 500 steps
leading to the royal tower

continues to be spectacular,

with majestic views from the tower
of the Pena Palace,

the city of Sintra,
its National Palace

and the Quinta da Regaleira.

Four locations replete
with mystery and legends.

Lisbon.

Year 1147.

A huge fortified citadel
dominates the city.

Inside, a Moorish detachment
resists the siege

of the army of Afonso I,

made up of crusaders
from various origins

on their way to the Holy Land.

17 weeks trying to force out
the invaders.

One morning, the captain of
the Portuguese troops, Martim Moniz,

saw how a door in the wall
half opened...

and threw himself against it
without a second thought.

The legend has it
that a fierce struggle ensued,

with Martim Moniz using his body
to stop the door from closing.

His soldiers seized the opportunity
and entered the fortress.

A few hours later, the Castle
of Saint George was captured.

And everyone attributed it

to the sacrifice made
by Captain Martim Moniz.

Martim Moniz is considered
one of the heroes

of the reconquest of Portugal.

The castle gate now bears his name

and a square at the foot of the hill
pays homage to the captain's bravery.

A martyr
who is permanently revered in Lisbon.

During the following centuries,

the castle witnessed
a number of skirmishes and sieges

laid by the Spanish troops

in the process of configuring
the two countries...

after territories were regained
from the Arabs.

It was always a difficult bastion
to capture.

It comprised 6000 square metres
of high ground,

with a configuration of eleven towers
and twelve entrance gates.

It has its own springs,

which made long sieges difficult
for the attackers.

It formed an enormous citadel,

with the curious feature
of long staircases

allowing soldiers easy access to
the lower areas of the castle wall.

From its lofty position

overlooking the navigable mouth
of the River Tagus,

San Jorge afforded views
of any danger

that might be lying in wait.

In the 20th century,
to illustrate this,

an optical system of lenses
and mirrors created by Da Vinci

was installed, offering a detailed
360 degree view of the city.

This perspective
helps us to understand

the importance the site had
in terms of defence and communication

for the different
civilisations that settled here.

Soldiers...

monks...

crusaders...

the Knights Templar
were responsible for actions

with a scope that transformed
the future of the Middle Ages.

With Christian faith
as their banner,

they left an impression
on the Western world

that is still remembered today.

They also lived a life
shrouded in an aura of occultism

that propelled them
into the territory of legends.

Branded as heretics
in their latter days,

the Castle of Tomar

saw the end
of their influential travels.

This fortress became
the religious order's

last bastion in Europe.

Stories were already being told
in the period

of how the Templars
found this location

using profane premonitory arts.

But what we know for sure is that,
after the Reconquest,

the first King of Portugal
donated the lands to the Order

as part of a defensive project.

The main reason
for building the fortress

was to defend the Convent of Christ.

The importance of this monastery
lies in its church...

whose chapel has an unusual
circular design

in the form of an ambulatory,

called "Charola"
or the "Oratory of the Templars".

This site was used to certify
the faith of its devotees

and their adherence to the Order...

allowing horsemen to enter
the church without dismounting.

This way, they could be made
armed knights in this very spot.

Tomar benefited
from the architectural advances

of the Templars,

turning the fortress into an example
of their achievements

and a centre that met
the high standards

imposed by the Order.

Characteristic elements
of their fortifications,

such as double walls
and a profusion of towers,

were used in its design.

Also worthy of note are its doors.

The most famous
is the so-called Blood Door,

given this name after the battle
against the Muslim troops.

Nine hundred men besieged the castle
for six days.

But the door stood fast.

A genuine bloodbath ensued,

confirming that Tomar
could not be conquered.

The Templars made the most
of the knowledge they acquired

from fighting in the Holy Land

to give the fortification
its recognisable curtain wall.

A fortress of these characteristics

could not fail to be associated
with mystery.

A multitude of esoteric elements
abounds in the castle,

promoting that mystical aura

that damaged the Order's reputation
in its latter years

and was used by its enemies
to accuse them of heresy.

There is a profusion
of the number eight,

the mystical figure par excellence,

which appears on its columns,
for example,

and also other symbols
considered to be pagan.

For this reason, Tomar continues
to make historians doubt

the authenticity of the accusations
that depleted their reputation.

If we take both the myths
and the truth into account,

Tomar stands as the last great
Templar fortress in the West,

the guardian of the mysteries
of the Order of the Temple.

Just over 20 kilometres
from Tomar

stands another of the Templar enigmas
in Portugal...

the arcane Castle of Almourol.

Why is Almourol considered
Portugal's most enigmatic castle?

What lay behind the walls
of its robust fortifications?

The participation of the Templars
in the Reconquest of Portugal

was decisive.

Thanks to this, they were given
the so-called "Tagus Line",

consisting of a series
of fortifications

on the banks of this great river,

which served as a barrier to defend
the capital of the period, Coimbra.

According to legends,

the Knights Templar may have used
these constructions

for something more
than defending the nation.

The design of these fortresses
was entrusted to Gualdim Pais,

the mysterious Master of the Order,

whose time in charge is shrouded
in both military exploits

and alchemistic rituals.

Gualdim's influence
remains to this day,

as some claim
to have noted his presence

among the Almourol battlements.

The castle is also the stage
for a multitude of legends

surrounding Moorish converts.

From girls thrown into the void
as victims of treason

to romances that ended in murder.

With its double-walled enclosure,

flanked by nine four-cornered towers,

the fortification
was designed to be adapted

to the particular features
of the space,

an island of stone
in the middle of the River Tagus.

But why did the Templars embark
on the complicated task

of building a fortress
in a place like this?

What were they trying to protect
behind these walls

that were so difficult to reach?

Many people defend the idea

that the famous treasure
of the Templars

can be found within its walls.

How did the legend
of the "treasure of the Templars"

come about?

It is said that
after losing Jerusalem

the Templars
fled from the Sultan Saladin

laden with relics
from the ancient Temple of Solomon.

Gold and silver furniture,
artefacts of power

and other fantastic objects

such as the mythical
Table of Solomon,

form part of the legend
of the "treasure of the Templars".

An island in the middle of the Tagus

would be a perfect place
to hide their booty.

However, it is also said that
a network of 12 kilometres of tunnels

connected the castle
with the outside.

And these tunnels may have been
where the treasure disappeared

after the Templars left.

Although no archaeological remains
have been found

to certify its existence.

With or without treasure,

Almourol, with its unusual location
and its iconic design,

will always be shrouded in the mists
of the Templar myth.

"Amongst the rubble,

"in the harsh confines
of the old fortress,

"battered by strong winds,
covered in stone,

"tightly packed,

"are two stacked coffers,
one of gold,

"the other of the plague".

These verses
are the start of the poem

written by the Count of Monsaraz,

based on one of the most
intriguing legends

surrounding the Castle
of Montemor-o-Velho.

It may be that beneath its walls

is one of Portugal's
most impressive hidden treasures.

And one of its curses.

25 kilometres from Coimbra,

the ruins of the Castle
of Montemor-o-Velho

stand as vestiges of a life spent
being passed from hand to hand.

Muslims and Christians were involved

in a continuous struggle
for these lands,

and dominated the region by periods.

The fact that it stood on the banks
of the River Mondego

made the fortress
a highly prized possession,

standing on a line
that was the natural separation

between the Christian north
and the Muslim south.

The fortification's reputation
also came from its large size.

Nearly 5000 men could be housed
inside the complex.

It is no surprise that
the terrain should give off

such a startling sensation,

given that it is replete
with the ghosts of many centuries

wandering its crumbling walls.

Despite having suffered centuries
of plundering and occupations,

the fort has areas
that have lasted until today.

Protected inside the castle walls,

we can still enjoy the church
of Santa Maria de Alcacova,

a building renovated
in the 16th century.

It has more than one surprise
in store,

like its stylised Manueline columns.

But what really catch the eye

are its altarpieces
and Romanesque sculptures,

silent witnesses
of the place's history.

A fortress with a tumultuous history

is the perfect setting
for myths and fantasies to develop.

The most famous legend
associated with these lands

is the so-called
"legend of the two coffers".

The lord of the castle,
a stern widower,

had just one daughter.

She was his greatest treasure.

But when the young woman
secretly married a knight

against her father's wishes,
he flew into a rage.

In an act of revenge,

the lord of the castle decided
to give them a malicious gift.

He offered them two sealed coffers
which they had to choose from.

One was full of gold,

the other was loaded with the plague.

Once opened,
it would unleash a plague

that would annihilate
the population mercilessly.

The young lovers
preferred their love

and fled without choosing
either of the coffers.

Could the coffers still be hidden
somewhere in the castle?

Or could someone
have opened them already?

Rising above the Sierra
de San Mames mountain range

is a fortress that is so high that,

as the local residents
are wont to claim,

you can see the backs of the birds
flying below.

This is why the Castle of Marvao
is also known as the "eagles' nest".

Jose Saramago, the winner
of the Nobel Prize for Literature,

went as far as to say,

"From Marvao, you can see
the whole of the Earth".

Indeed, nobody can doubt

the panoramic view
enjoyed by these lands.

Its unique location, together with
the sheer rock that supports it

and the legend that protects it,

gives the Castle of Marvao...

the reputation of being Portugal's
most unconquerable fortress.

The Castle of Marvao

is considered to be
a set of superimposed fortresses.

Its three different lines
of fortification

confirm that its architects
took their task seriously.

All the elements of the castle

were designed to make it
an impregnable site.

From its interminable ramparts...

to its strategic battlements.

From its blind doors...

to its embrasures for low fire,

Marvao was designed to be
an obstacle course for its attackers.

The walls were adapted
to the sheer nature of the terrain,

making the most
of the passive defence

provided by the craggy crest
of quartz rock

on which the fortress is built.

Marvao, it is claimed, was able
to withstand a year-long siege.

The water tank that can still
be seen in the castle

is one of the reasons
supporting such a claim.

This enormous ten-metre-high cistern
could supply the hamlet for months.

The inhabitants of Marvao maintain
that the hamlet has lasted so long

because of the protection
of its patron...

Nossa Senhora da Estrela,
Our Lady of the Star.

It is said that she defends anyone
who lives within its walls.

There is a story that, in wartime,

two Spanish soldiers crept up
close to the fortress

in search of an entrance
to attack it.

Suddenly,
an unknown woman's voice shouted...

"Take arms!"

The lookouts then alerted the troops
garrisoned in the castle.

After being given away by this woman,

the Spanish soldiers
fled down the slope in terror.

Of course, it is said
that the woman's voice

that alerted the soldiers

was the voice of Our Lady of the Star
herself.

It is perhaps
thanks to Nossa Senhora da Estrela

that the Castle of Marvao
still stands today,

protecting its inhabitants.

One thing we can be sure of, however,

is that its stones will continue
to witness the passage of time

from the privileged vantage point
provided by the Sierra de San Mames.

Feats of war and political intrigues

are characteristic elements
of all fortresses.

But castles are also notable as being
the backdrop for famous romances.

What turns a fortress
into the perfect stage

for stories of lovesickness?

Braganca has witnessed
treachery in love

and even stories of people
locked up for love.

The adultery committed
by the nobleman Fernao Mendes...

which led his wife Dona Sancha
to take refuge in the castle,

are well known.

Another scandalous case
was that of Dona Leonor,

the wife
of the fourth Duke of Braganca,

who was imprisoned in the castle

after being unjustly accused
of adultery.

But the most famous romance
associated with this place

is the one that revolves around
the so-called "Princess's Tower".

The girl fell in love
with a poor soldier.

But the penniless soldier was
not worthy of her hand in marriage.

So he left to seek his fortune.

But time passed
and the soldier did not return.

Even so, the princess rejected
all the suitors

that came seeking her hand
in marriage.

Years later, her uncle betrothed her
to a wealthy knight.

But when she met him,

she confessed her intention
to continue to wait for her soldier.

Her uncle flew into a rage

and came up with a plan
to teach her a lesson.

Disguised as a ghost
during a stormy night,

he crept into
the princess's bedchamber.

The ghost's message was clear.

The girl must forget about her lover
because he would never return.

Her duty was to marry the knight
chosen by her uncle.

Miraculously, a flash of lightning
lit up the room

and revealed that the spectre
was in fact her own uncle.

The disconsolate princess
withdrew into one of the towers,

some say for ever,

others, until her love returned.

This story ensured that the building
would forever be known

as the "Princess's Tower".

This fortress, with its sturdy walls
and robust design,

represents the virtues
of the Portuguese people.

The Castle of Guimaraes

is the beginning
of the Kingdom of Portugal.

How can it be

that this fortress carries
such a reputation on its shoulders?

Ancient and regal,

the fortress was built
to become a medieval bastion

against the continuous attacks
of Moors and Norsemen.

A bird's eye view

reveals the surprising
triangular shape of Guimaraes.

Its three-point floor plan
reminds us of a shield,

an appearance that supposes
a good metaphor

for the defensive nature
of the fortress.

It also benefits from a design

unlike the usual Portuguese
constructions of the period,

perhaps because
of the Saxon influence

that can be seen in its forms.

With its solid granite walls,

Guimaraes resisted attacks
for centuries

despite its relatively small size.

It measures just 50 metres long
by 30 metres wide.

The castle was built
with an imposing appearance,

made to look much bigger
than it actually is.

With eight turrets around its keep,

this imposing fortress stands proud
and important,

as it has done since it was built,

witness as it was to the birth
of the Portuguese nation.

So let's have a look
at the foundations

of modern-day Portugal.

The origins of Portugal

give rise to one of the most powerful
legends of the time.

We are talking about a tale

that defines the honourable nature
of the country

and its capacity for loyalty
and commitment.

That tale is the legend
of Egas Moniz.

Twelfth century.

The Spanish army was fighting

to maintain its hegemony
in Guimaraes.

But the prince Afonso Henriques
had other intentions,

the independence of the kingdom.

The region was not going to be able

to deal with the siege
of Spanish troops.

However, Henriques,
the Portuguese prince,

went back on Moniz's promise.

He refused to submit to the Spanish
king and continued with his plans.

This meant that Moniz's honour
was called into question.

To keep his honour intact,

Moniz decided to leave for the court
of the Spanish king.

He did away with his noble attire,

dressed in rags
and travelled to Toledo.

He presented himself to the king
as a beggar.

His intention was clear,

to place his life
and that of his family

at the sovereign's service,

as a guarantee of his commitment
and a gesture of loyalty.

The monarch was overwhelmed
by Moniz's actions.

Understanding that his promise
had been kept,

he was moved

and gave him back his freedom.

The legend of Egas Moniz

thus became the representation
of the honourability

of the Portuguese people.

And the Castle of Guimaraes
benefits from this tale

to stand as one of the most unusual
fortresses on the Iberian Peninsula.

A genuine national symbol,

based on honour...

and on legend.

Captions (c) SBS Australia 2021