The History of Ourém
In the year 1136 D. Afonso Henriques took from the moors the early castle, later named Aurem, whilst fighting to expand the reign of Portugal and affirm the Christian faith on the Moors.
Ourém became part of the Christian rule when it was taken from the Moors in 1136 by D. Afonso Henriques. It was given to his daughter, Queen Teresa, who gave it its first Charter in 1180, giving rise to one of the first municipalities of the country.
The date of foundation of the Castle of Ourém is unknown, but it is defiantly very old since in 1178 there was already talk of the castle as a national monument, an exemplary building in territorial domain, and the soul of the walled borough erected on the mount of Ourém, a place where stood a palace, a Collegiate Church and Crypt, a Gothic fountain and a Pillory, the narrow streets and whitewashed walls.
Count Andeiro, second count of Ourém, was responsible for the signing of the Alliance Treaty between England and Portugal, still in vigour to this day.