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Castro Marim

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Overview

Castro Marim is a town in the Algarve with a medieval castle, a popular medieval festival in the last week of August, and local festivals in September.

Facts

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage

Media

From Wikipedia221 words

WBP editorial3

Borderland character

Castro Marim sits on the Guadiana River, the natural frontier between Portugal and Spain, and its streets still echo the rhythm of cross‑border life. Locals habitually slip into neighbouring Sanlúcar de Guadiana for a quick market purchase or a café, then drift back for the evening fête. This daily ping‑pong shapes a culinary palette that blends Algarve’s seafood with Andalusian tapas, and the dialect carries subtle Andalusian inflections. Travelers willing to wander beyond the town’s main square will find bilingual signposts, shared festivals, and a modest river ferry that ferries cyclists and walkers across the water, offering a glimpse of how two nations coexist in a single community.

Seasonal pulse beyond the fair

While the August medieval fair draws crowds, the town’s quieter calendar provides a deeper sense of place. In early spring, the surrounding cork oak woodlands awaken, and guided walks reveal the ancient harvesting cycles that still support local cooperatives. Autumn brings the grape harvest in nearby vineyards, where small family estates open their cellars for informal tastings of crisp Vinha da Légua whites. Winter, though cooler, is the best time to explore the historic fortifications without the tourist bustle; the low sun casts long shadows across the walls, allowing visitors to imagine the strategic watch over the river that once guarded the Iberian frontier.

Practical travel craft

Reaching Castro Marim is simplest by car; the A22 motorway skirts the town, and reliable parking is available at the municipal car park near the historic centre. For cyclists, the EuroVelo 1 Atlantic Coast route links to the Guadiana ferry, offering a scenic river crossing to Spain and back. Public transport is sparse, so plan a shuttle from Faro or Seville if you rely on buses. Accommodations tend to be family‑run guesthouses; booking ahead for the fair period is advisable, but off‑season rooms are often negotiable with a modest discount for longer stays.

Introduction

For the civil parish, see Castro Marim (parish). Municipality in Algarve, PortugalCastro MarimMunicipalityTown of Castro MarimView of Castro Marim FlagCoat of armsInteractive map of Castro MarimCastro MarimLocation in PortugalCoordinates: 37°13′N 7°27′W / 37.217°N 7.450°W / 37.217; -7.450Country PortugalRegionAlgarveIntermunic. comm.AlgarveDistrictFaroParishes4Government • PresidentFrancisco Amaral (PSD)Area • Total300.84 km2 (116.15 sq mi)Population (2011) • Total6,747 • Density22.43/km2 (58.09/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+00:00 (WET) • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)Local holidayJune 24Websitehttp://www.cm-castromarim.pt Castro Marim (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈkaʃtɾu mɐˈɾĩ] ⓘ), officially the Town of Castro Marim (Portuguese: Vila de Castro Marim), is a town and a municipality in the southern region of Algarve, in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 6,747, in an area of 300.84 km2. The current mayor is Francisco Amaral, elected by the Social Democratic Party. The municipal holiday is June 24. In the Roman era, Castro Marim was known as Aesuris. Every year at the end of August there is a Medieval Fair/Festival that reunites many people from across the world to perform, like medieval musicians, archers, swordsmen, dancers, troupes, et cetera. There are sellers too: blacksmiths, textile crafters (weaving), herbs sellers, and so on. In honour of his Portuguese mother, Lucia Gomes, from Castro Marim, the Spanish composer and guitarist Paco de Lucía named his thirteenth studio album Castro Marín.