Portugal is the oldest state/nation in Europe, having its current borders defined by 1243. With a long history of military conquests (against the Moors) and defense against the constant threat from Spain, the number of castles built is especially high. Contrary to the rest of Central Europe they’ve maintained their typical military structure, and many of them are still typically medieval, and even show their Roman origins.

Instead converting the castles, the nobility preferred to build palaces and this was much facilitated by the 15th and 16th century sea discoveries, which brought huge richness to Portugal. In these centuries the Portuguese were the ruling power in the oceans, discovering seaways between continents and distant kingdoms, like India, Japan and South America and were only defied by the Spanish.