The Top 5 Things to See in Abrantes, Portugal

1. Castelo de Abrantes

On a 200-metre-high plateau over the town, Abrante’s castle was one of the Linha do Tejo, a sequence of 12th-century fortifications defending the north of Portugal at the River Tagus.

This was drawn up by the Knights Templar, and the castle would see action for the next hundred years as the Moors attempted to retake the town.

Nearly all the architecture today dates to a 17th-century refit during the Portuguese Restoration War when the walls were lowered and reinforced, while bastions were added in time for the Peninsular Wars in the 18th century.

For vestiges of the  original medieval castle see the restored keep at the centre and sections of the battlements with distant panoramas of the Tagus Valley.

2. Praia Fluvial Aldeia do Mato

A mere 10 kilometres north of Abrantes is the Albufeira do Castelo do Bode, a reservoir filling the Zêzere Valley and created in the 1950s by the Castelo do Bode Dam.

If you’re searching for somewhere to cool off in the torrid summer months, look no further.

The beach has designated swimming areas in a green environment dominated by the aroma of pine trees Watersports like rowing, canoeing and wind surfing are offered at the nautical centre, and there are even occasional boat tours of the reservoir.

To see the dam come around to the village of Castelo do Bode where this megastructure dominates the valley.

3. Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo

Inside the castle walls, standing proudly next to the keep is this Gothic church dating to the 1400s.

On this very space there probably would have been a temple in Roman times, as a marble statue was recovered in excavations (you can see this inside). The church is no longer a place of worship as it’s been turned into a small archaeological with revolving exhibits of Islamic ceramics, Roman stonework and Prehistoric hand-axes unearthed at the site.

The church was also the pantheon for the noble Almeida family, so there are some very ornate tombs to see, boasting Manueline masonry from the 1500s.

4. Castelo de Almourol

This mighty castle defends a small rocky island on the Tagus and was built and manned by the Knights Templar.

It was part of that line of defences along the river devised during the Reconquista in the 12th century, although the site had also been used by the Moors, and the Visigoths and Romans before them.

You reach it by crossing the river in a boat, which is an undeniably epic way to approach a castle.

Given its great age the castle is essentially just a shell with a tower surrounded by crenellated walls, but there are plenty of information boards, and marvellous views from the roof.

5. Igreja de São João Baptista

Another of Abrantes’ National Monument is this cultured Mannerist church from the 16th century.

At this time the original 12th-century building was completely remodelled and expanded, with two additional naves placed  either side of the original central one.

Check out the wooden panels on the ceiling and the 17th-century Mannerist altars by the master sculptor Dionisio Rodrigues.

In the 1700s these were also embellished with gilt wood in the Baroque style.

Next Post →