CHAVES, Portugal — The Santo Estêvão Castle, a national monument located in the municipality of Chaves in northern Vila Real district, is facing an “advanced state of degradation” and is reportedly “at risk of collapsing,” according to local officials and residents calling for immediate intervention.
Classified as a national monument since 1939, the medieval structure has suffered significant deterioration in recent years. Chaves Mayor Nuno Vaz, speaking during a press conference held near the site, warned that the monument’s condition has reached a critical point, with concerns that it may soon collapse without urgent restoration efforts.
“It has been deteriorating very consistently in recent years and our fear is that it could collapse,” said Mayor Vaz. He noted that the municipality has been alerting various state entities since 2022 about the monument’s worsening condition, but no action has yet been taken.
As a state-owned heritage site, the castle’s management has been clouded by uncertainty over which institution holds responsibility for its upkeep. “The truth is that nothing has happened to date,” the mayor emphasized.
The damage, largely caused by leaks and exposure to harsh weather conditions, has compromised both the roof and the internal wooden flooring. “Our biggest fear is that the foundations themselves may be at risk and this fortification, as a whole, may collapse,” said Vaz. He described the press conference as “almost an act of desperation to draw attention” to the issue.
The municipality has expressed its willingness to contribute to a resolution, including financially, with the aim of restoring and reopening the site to visitors and tourists.
Echoing the mayor’s concerns, the president of the Santo Estêvão Parish Council, Maria José Barros, described the damage as “drastic,” attributing it to long-standing neglect and seasonal weather impacts.
“It started out as small and insignificant problems, but since it was not repaired, the degradation is now significant and is causing us great concern because it cannot be visited and could even collapse at any moment,” she warned.
The national news agency Lusa attempted to obtain a response from the Cultural Heritage Institute regarding the castle’s condition, but no comment was available at the time of publication.
