Set along the Quarteira River a little more than five miles from Albufeira, Castelo de Paderne, also known as Almóada Castle was built in the late 12th century by the Berbers. Today, the fortification is represented as one of the castles on the flag of Portugal. Over the years, the reddish brown-hued structure served as a military outpost and administrative center, and was controlled by the Romans and then the Moors before it was restored to the Portuguese crown in 1248. As a result of its decline, the castle was abandoned in 1858. It was not until 1998, that it was purchased and not until 2002 that a local organization announced the intent to reconstruct what was left. Today, many parts of the castle no longer remain such as the chapel with only its walls still standing as well as the entrance gate.
Portugal