The design if Duarte d'Armas, in his Livro das Fortalezas, indicates that at the beginning of the 16th century, the barrio outside the walls was more complete then those in the interior, including two religious buildings.

[1] The construction of the 16th century fortress, resulted from the fear of Spanish threats from across the border during the Restoration Wars, and was included in a line of defenses along the Minho River and Atlantic coast.

[1] On 25 September 1643, forces of Cerveira resisted attacks by troops loyal to King Philip IV of Spain, with the regions defenses organized by Governor Manuel de Lima e Abreu.

With the continued need to defend the territory, the 7th Viscount of Vila Nova de Cerveira ordered that the settlement be circled with walls, bartizans and four interior bastions (São Miguel, Espírito Santo, Conceição and Almas).

[1] These public works were complete in 1667, under the direction of Field Marshall Francisco Azevedo, supported with the royal taxation on water and fife from the settlers.

[1] In 1718, Manuel Pinto Vilalobos measured and evaluated the lands in the interior of the fortification, for the purpose of sale in public competition.

[1] In 2004, the castle was approved for the Plano Director das Fortalezas transfronteiriças do Vale do Minho (Minho Valley Transborder Fortress Directors Plan), under the Interreg III Program, which sought to inventory the built inventory, evaluate their state of conservation and determine strategies for preservation.

[1] The castle is situated in an urban context, addorsed and distinct on the right bank of the Minho River, over a small portion of the wall, that extends along the border of the city.

[1] The castle has an oval plan, formed with 8 rectangular towers and a line of walls, and integrated into the São Miguel bastion over the river and barbican oriented towards the town.

Among many of the buildings constructed inside the walls are the old residence of the governor, municipal seat, pillory, jail, barracks and storerooms, along with the Church of the Misericórida.