Explore the Charm of Castelo Branco

Between granite hills and wide rivers, the Castelo Branco District opens a less crowded side of central Portugal. It stretches from the Tagus gorges to the high slopes of Serra da Estrela. Summers are hot and bright. Winters can be crisp, with clear skies and views that seem to reach the Spanish border. The mood is calm and welcoming, with small towns, stone villages, and a deep link to land and craft.

In Castelo Branco, the capital, Baroque art and gardens set the tone. The Jardim do Paço Episcopal is a formal garden with terraces, fountains, and carved statues. Hedges frame blue and white tile panels. It feels theatrical, yet peaceful. The city also keeps a famous textile tradition. The “bordados de Castelo Branco” are silk embroideries with bright floral motifs. You can see them in museums and small workshops, and often buy fine pieces directly from artisans.

To the north, Covilhã climbs the mountain side and looks over the Cova da Beira valley. It once spun wool for the whole country. Today, old mills hold creative studios, street art, and design projects, without losing that textile soul. Trails lead from here into Serra da Estrela Natural Park, where granite peaks, glacial valleys, and clear lagoons shape the landscape. In winter, frost paints the fields. In summer, the air is high and dry, and the views are wide.

Many visitors come for the stone villages. Monsanto stands out. Houses press against giant boulders, and lanes wind under rock arches. The castle ruins on the ridge catch the wind and the late sun. Near it, Idanha-a-Velha keeps Roman walls, a paleochristian cathedral, and quiet streets with carved stones reused across centuries. Together with Belmonte, they form part of the Historic Villages network. Belmonte tells a rare story of Jewish heritage that survived in the shadows and now lives in the open, with a museum, a synagogue, and careful memory.

Water shapes the south and west. The Tagus cuts through schist cliffs at Portas de Ródão, where vultures circle over a deep blue channel. Boat trips reveal the scale of the rocks and the silence of the banks. The UNESCO-recognized Naturtejo Geopark spreads across much of the district, linking fossils, quartzite ridges, and village life. In the Zêzere valley near Fundão, spring brings cherry blossoms. In summer, river beaches offer clear pools and shade. Towns like Idanha-a-Nova, Sertã, and Oleiros add slow rhythms, local markets, and small festivals. Every two years, near Idanha, a large arts and music gathering lights up the lakeside and the pine woods.

Food here is simple and rich. Try queijo da Beira Baixa DOP, either buttery or cured. Taste olive oil with a green, peppery bite. Order cabrito roasted over wood, maranho from Sertã, and tigelada baked in clay. The Beira Baixa wine region produces reds with spice and structure, and fresh whites for warm evenings.

Travel is easy by road, and the Beira Baixa railway threads the Tagus and open plains with scenic views near Vila Velha de Ródão. Come with time. The reward is space, light, and a sense of old Portugal that still feels alive. Crafted by AI with care. Click to learn about our approach