Europe

The town of Castelo Rodrigo belongs to the municipality of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, in the Guarda district. Besides, it’s one of the 12 Historical Villages of Portugal (a program created to enhance villages in the Beira Interior region, older than the country itself). In the Middle Ages, Castelo Rodrigo integrated the border defense line and had a wall supported by 13 turrets! Nowadays, only a few of those defensive structures remain, but the ruins are true panoramic viewpoints!

Castelo Novo is located in Fundão, in the Castelo Branco district, and is part of the 12 Historical Villages of Portugal (a program created to restore and enhance villages older than the country itself). Well, the town may be called Castelo Novo (ie “New Castle”), but it has nothing new: after all, we’re talking about more than 800 years of history! With Templar origins, Castelo Novo developed markedly medieval architecture, but you can find buildings from the Manueline and Baroque periods!

Óbidos is a very picturesque town, where you can walk along the centuries-old walls, discover where a long 16th-century aqueduct ends, and even climb a medieval castle, which was elected one of the “7 Wonders of Portugal” in 2007! Óbidos is an excellent option for a day trip from Lisbon and, if you can’t decide when to visit this Portuguese town, don’t worry. There are several festivals and fairs throughout the year, which can also your trip much more special!

Very close to the Spanish border, you’ll find the medieval village of Castelo Mendo, one of the “12 Historical Villages of Portugal” (a program created by the government to restore and enhance a series of villages in the Beira Interior region, older than the country itself). Castelo Mendo belongs to the Guarda district and is located 19 km from another historical village: Almeida. Besides, it’s also one of the smallest villages on this route, so you can visit it in a more relaxed way!

Despite being a town, Belmonte is considered one of the “12 Historical Villages of Portugal” (a program created to restore and enhance a series of villages in the Beira Interior region). Belmonte belongs to the Castelo Branco district and is located about 40 km from the Torre da Serra da Estrela (the highest point in mainland Portugal) and 20 km from another historical village: Sortelha. Besides, it’s famous because of its Jewish Community, which has remained secret for many centuries!