Short history of Beja
Beja was and still is an important cultural and agricultural center of the region. The city still has some of its original charm. The history of the city can still be felt in the alleys today.
It is probable that Beja was founded by Celts in the 5th century BC, but the first mentions were only in the 2nd century BC.
The Romans named the city Pax Julia, built a road and the city received one of the four chanceries of Lusitania created under Augustus.
In the 5th century Alans, Suebi and Vandals appeared on the territory of Portugal, the region around Beja was first occupied by Alans, then by Suebi. However, Alans and Vandals left the Iberian Peninsula as early as 428 to conquer North Africa. They were followed by the Suebi around 430, who conquered Beja around 440. The Visigoths occupied Seville in 473 and probably soon conquered Beja as well; the Suebi retreated to the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Beja became the seat of a bishopric for the first time and was named Paca.
The Arabs and Berbers, known as Moors, who led the Arab Empire between 661 and 750 and conquered the region at the beginning of the 8th century, surrounded the city with a new wall. Muslim rule lasted until 1162, during which time the city was given the name Beja. It became the birthplace of Al-Mutamid, who was not only the master of the city, but became one of the most important poets.
After the fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba in 1031, numerous partial dominions, the Taifa kingdoms, emerged. Beja was initially subject to the Aftasids until it fell to the Kingdom of Seville. In the years 1162 to 1167, Christian units, among whose leaders Geraldo sem Pavor stood out, succeeded for the first time in carrying out a major offensive, and one of the leaders, Fernando Gonçalves from Santarém, briefly conquered Beja in 1162.
With the Almohad-Berber conquest, Beja once again became part of a major empire with contacts to North Africa. This period was dominated by rulers such as Ibn Al-Mundhir, Ibn Qasi, and the last Moorish king, whom the Portuguese called “Aben Afan.”
From 1228, Paio Peres Correia began the definitive conquest of the Algarve on behalf of the Portuguese king, and in 1235 Beja fell. The city also produced important poets in the Christian era, such as Diogo de Gouveia (1471-1557), the teacher of Francisco de Xavier and advisor to King João III, then the humanist and rector of the University of Paris André de Gouveia (1497-1548), who also founded the Real Colégio das Artes e Humanidades in Coimbra. The humanist António de Gouveia also came from this family.
In the years between 1250 and 1267, Portugal and Castile quarreled over the Algarve, but they agreed on a treaty through the mediation of the Pope. Castile finally renounced its rights to the Algarve.
In 1517, Beja was granted city rights. In 1770, the city was once again elevated to the seat of its own bishopric by Pope Clement XIV, having previously belonged to the archbishopric of Évora.
Sightseeing – Sights: What is there to see?
Visible from afar is the mighty fort, rebuilt in the 13th century by King Dinis. From there you have a magnificent view over the wide plains of the Alentejo with its cornfields and gnarled olive trees.
During a tour of the city, you can easily orientate yourself by the imposing, almost 40 meter high tower of the fort, the “Torre de Menagem”. Also worth seeing is the church “Santa Amaro” near the fort, which dates back to the 6th century and is one of the oldest preserved buildings in Portugal. Today it houses the Visigothic museum “Museu Nucleo Visgotico”. Especially worthwhile is a visit to the Mercado Municipal (city market). There you can get almost all imaginable delicacies and the colorful stalls alone are worth seeing.
Airport – Beja Airport (BYJ)
Since 2011, the airport, located about 12 kilometers from Beja, could also be used for civil aviation. It was originally built in 1964 as a training airport for the West German Air Force. Today, it is still used by the Portuguese military and it is even reserved as a space shuttle landing site. Although Beja Airport is the only airport in Portugal’s largest region by area, the Alentejo, it has not been able to maintain its position as a passenger airport to this day.
Photos & Text: Rainer Georgius
Nature & Culture 
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