Cascais: “The Town of Kings and Fishes”
The Atlantic seaside village of Cascais was not on my radar until just a month ago. As luck would have it, a good friend called me from the states as I was thinking of exploring Portugal’s Algarve region. He suggested I check out Cascais as well and here I am. For those of you, like me, unfamiliar with this town…here is an introduction.
Cascais is known as “The Town of Kings and Fishes” because it was a small traditional fishing village that found favor with the 19th century Portuguese nobility, who visited for their summer retreat. Yet the history of Cascais goes way back in time, having been inhabited from the remotest ages. From various finds excavated in the area, it is known that Paleolithic man lived there, and it is believed Neolithic people lived in local caves 4000 years old. There is also much evidence from the Roman period, dating from 1 AD from villas that have been excavated and inscriptions found of family names, names of the Gods they worshipped, and names chosen for their sons. Also names from the time of the Arab occupation can be found.
After being under the influence of the Moors this area was reconquered in 1153. However, it stayed under the administrative control of Sintra until 1364. Given that Cascais is a seaside village, since its early years fishing was one of the main economic activities of its inhabitants alongside with maritime commerce and agriculture. The main products produced and traded were wine, olive oil, fruits and, of course, fish.
Statue of Dom Pedro I (King Peter I) in Cascais's historic center square. Their prosperity led to its administrative independence from Sintra on 7 June 1364 as they received the elevation of the village to the status of town, necessitating the appointment of local judges and administrators.
The geographic position of Cascais made it a strategic point in the defense of Lisbon. Therefore, in 1488 King John II ordered the fortification of the village and the construction of a fortress by the sea. However, this fortress was unable to resist the invasion of the Spanish troops in 1580. By the end of the 16th century the fortress had been expanded according to the architecture of the traditional renaissance citadels. The defense of Cascais was reinforced with the construction of several other fortresses in the surrounding area.
The fort overlooking the sea.
The 1755 earthquake was a decisive moment of the history of Cascais. As with many of the coastal Portuguese villages and towns, Cascais was almost entirely destroyed. A huge part of Cascais heritage was lost forever. The rough times that followed the earthquake slowly because to improve and by 1774 the Marquis of Pombal started producing fortified wine in Carcavelos. His wines grew in reputation, especially in Britain, and the area became a famed winemaking center.
By the end of the 19th centuries two factors changed the history of Cascais immensely. One of them was the construction of the railway to Lisbon in 1889; the other was the fact that king Luís II chose Cascais as the royal family summer destination due to the beautiful beaches in town and the surrounding area. From there Cascais grew a reputation as a glamorous tourist destination worldwide, some say rivaling Marbella and Monte Carlo. World War 2 was another landmark of the history of Cascais. Due to the Portuguese neutrality, many royal families sought exile here. Cascais was an oasis on a continent devastated by the conflict.
