While reviewing the map of my Camino path toward Santiago, I noticed an interesting site on the map, listed as Castelo da Rocha Forte. Knowing that 'castelo' is Spanish for 'castle', I was intrigued and since it was only a slight detour, I thought I would check it out. To get to the site, I had to take an early turn, which took me to the outskirts of what must have been the castle's grounds in centuries past. Here at the corner of the lot in which the castle's foundation sits, a steel spiral staircase is enclosed in a cage and offers visitors a chance to get above the ruin and look down.
Though nothing more than a couple of retaining walls and the foundation blocks remain, this must have been an impressive structure in its day. The castle was build in 1240 as a residence for the local archbishops during the more dangerous local rebellions, and served to protect him. During the following centuries, it did just that for many successive archbishops and withstood a number of sieges. Finally and after having become a symbol of feudal oppression in the region, some 11,000 people attacked and destroyed the castle. It now sits in ruins, classified as a major archaeological site.
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