Leiria Castle (Castelo de Leiria) is a medieval castle overlooking the historic city of Leiria in central Portugal. The castle is hard to miss if you are in Leiria, as the majestic structure can be seen from virtually everywhere in town, radiating history and a bit of mysticism.
Was it worth it for me to go up several times and take several photos just so I could capture this medieval castle in Portugal under perfect light? Short answer: yes. But I want to tell you more about the why and the how.
Why Leiria Castle feels special
Maybe this medieval castle in Portugal is not as famous as its neighbours, the Tomar Castle and the Óbidos Castle, both major tourist attractions. But I actually found that to be a refreshing perk: Castelo de Leiria is less crowded and still feels like a hidden gem waiting to be discovered in central Portugal.
The stunning castle sits on top of a hill and seems to watch quietly over the streets, houses and squares of Leiria. The fortress dominates the skyline and serves as a constant reminder of Leiria’s medieval origins.
This strategic position was probably the hook for the kings and queens that inhabited the complex in its nine-century history. I discovered later that Leiria Castle was built by Dom Afonso Henriques, the very first king of Portugal, evolving over time from a military stronghold into a royal residence.
Chasing the sunset over Leiria Castle
This photo of Castelo de Leiria is actually quite special because it is the result of something I did for the first time ever: combining two separate photos taken a long time apart without keeping the camera precisely in place. It was a true experiment, and it worked out beautifully.
This view is from the rooftop of the little hotel we were staying at. We were sitting by the window, studying Portuguese, when I noticed how the castle was beautifully lit by the setting sun. I grabbed my camera, went upstairs, and took a handheld photo. However, in this first photo, the sky was pretty dull.
I went back down and continued studying. About thirty minutes later, I noticed a beautiful cloud forming exactly above the castle, so I went up again and took a second photo. In this one, the sky was stunning, but the sun had disappeared from the walls, making the castle itself look dull.
Later I was able to combine the two photos, resulting in a composition where I captured both the warm sunlight on the castle walls and the dramatic sunset clouds.
If you want to use this technique, my advice is to bring a tripod and stay there patiently to capture both moments at the same angle. In my case, both shots were handheld and even slightly different in focal length. Despite that, it was a success!
Best viewpoints to photograph Leiria Castle
As I mentioned, you won’t have to move around too much to find a viewpoint, as Leiria Castle rises dramatically above the compact city center. But just to give you three examples:
- One classic viewpoint is from Praça Rodrigues Lobo, Leiria Old Town Square, surrounded by cafés with great views of the castle. The result is a layered composition above the old town.
- Another interesting angle is near Leiria Bell Tower, where the contrast between the vertical tower in the forefront and the castle in the background creates a very interesting perspective.
- You can also photograph the castle from the inside out. One popular photography spot inside the castle complex is the loggia, offering a wonderful panorama of the city behind the ancient medieval columns.
