50. Do Medieval Castles Drive Heritage-Based Development in Low-Density Areas

de Freitas, I. V., Mourão, P. J. R., & Albuquerque, H. (2025). Do Medieval Castles Drive Heritage-Based Development in Low-Density Areas? Heritage, 8(6), 197. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8060197This study examines whether medieval castles classified as National Monuments or of Public Interest drive tourism and cultural investment in Portugal, especially in low-density areas. Using data from the Information System for Architectural Heritage and spatial analysis in QGIS, researchers identified 106 classified castles, mainly in low-density municipalities along the Spanish border, in Alentejo, and central Portugal. While most are in urban areas and serve cultural or recreational purposes, their presence does not significantly increase tourist numbers or length of stay, with tourism remaining concentrated in Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve. However, the existence of a classified castle has a strong positive impact on municipal cultural spending, especially in less-resourced municipalities, fostering territorial cohesion. The study highlights the castles’ untapped potential for tourism-led development and calls for integrated strategies, improved infrastructure, and cultural programming to fully leverage heritage assets. Future research should include non-classified sites and qualitative approaches.