Monsaraz Guide
Portugal City Travel Guide: Monsaraz
Monsaraz is a pretty, hill-top village with a castle and less than a thousand, mostly elderly inhabitants in the Alto Alentejo region.
Rua Direita, the main street, winds its way up to the historic castle from where there are stunning views as far as Spain and the Lago Alqueva - the largest man-made lake in Europe.
The views have earned the village the sobriquet of Ninho das Águias or Eagles' Nest and it's easy to see why. There are relaxing vistas of vineyards and olive trees stretching seemingly endlessly into the distance.
Romans, Visigoths and Muslims all settled in this area of the country farming the olives and grapes and tending livestock. Indeed, the name Monsaraz derives from the word Xarez or Xerez from the Arabic Saris, which refers to the gum rockrose plant which is abundant in this area. The term also finds its way into the word "sherry."
Monsaraz relies almost entirely on tourism with a few hotels and guest houses, restaurants and local craft shops.
The village's attractions include a couple of churches, the Igreja Matriz (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Lagoa) and the Igreja da Misericórdia. The Igreja Matriz was rebuilt after the 1755 Earthquake and again in the 19th century. Within is a 14th-century marble tomb of the Knight Templar Gomes Martins Silvestre, the first mayor (alcaide) of the village, made in marble from nearby Estremoz and depicting his funeral procession. Outside is an 18th-century pillory or pelourinho topped with a Manuelino astrolabe. This is also in fine Estremoz marble.
The Museu Do Fresco (formerly the Museu de Arte Sacra) is housed in a Gothic house on Largo Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira that also used to be the base of the Inquisition in the village and later a school. Inside is a rare fresco (O Bom e o Mau Juiz) dating from the 14th century showing two justices: one good and the other bad as well as vestments and other religious art. The museum also has exhibitions on the history of the area and the nearby castle. It is well worth the small entrance fee.
The Casa da Inquisição - Centro Interativo da História Judaica is a small museum near the castle dedicated to the brutal persecution of the Jewish population in Portugal by the Inquisition.
The Castelo de Monsaraz and its Torre das Feiticeiras (Witches' Tower) are the main attractions, however. The fortress was taken from the Moors by Geraldo Sem Pavor (Gerald the Fearless) in 1167.
It was then given to the Knights Templar and later the Order of Christ to garrison. The castle became one of a series of forts kept by King Dinis (1261-1325) to protect the border with Castile. As well as the castle, further protection is afforded by the city walls. The main entrance to the village is through Porta da Vila, reinforced by two towers. Another gate, the Porta d'Evora, is also guarded by a rectangular tower.
Nearby
The area around Monsaraz is known for its Neolithic stone circles, megaliths and dolmens (antas) - ancient stone tombs. Xarez Cromlech (Cromeleque do Xarez) is the most famous with a 4-meter high, seven ton menhir standing stone at the center of a circle of 49 smaller stones. It was transferred to its present site before the flooding caused by the construction of the Alqueva Dam (Barragem do Alqueva) in 2002.
The Menir do Outeiro is another large standing stone not far from the Spanish border. It stands 5.6 meters high and weighs around 8 tons.
The Menhir of Bulhoa (aka Menhir of Abelhoa) is 4 meters high and covered with some mysterious carvings. It is situated between the villages of Telheiro and Outeiro. Visitors can pick up a map of all the Neolithic sites in the area from the Tourist Office.
Lago Alqueva is the largest reservoir and man-made lake in Europe created by the construction of the Alqueva Dam on the River Gaudiana. The subsequent flooding of the valley submerged the village of Luz, which was rebuilt elsewhere. The dam provides hydro-electric power and water for the region. Boat tours may be available in the summer. Check with the turismo.
Reguengos de Monsaraz
Reguengos de Monsaraz is a small town west of Monsaraz. It was and still is to a certain extent famous for production of hand-woven, woollen floor rugs - mantas alentejanas. These and other woollen items can be purchased at the excellent Fábrica Alentejana De Lanifícios (Tel: +3 266 502 179).
The striking local church, the Igreja Matriz de Santo António, was designed by Portuguese architect António José Dias da Silva, who also built the Campo Pequeno bullring (Praça de Touros do Campo Pequeno) in the north of Lisbon.
Monsaraz Tourist Office
Monsaraz Tourist Office
Rua Direita 24
7200-175, Portugal
Tel: 927 997 316.
Find information on where to stay and eat in Monsaraz.
Getting to Monsaraz
Train Travel in Portugal
Monsaraz is not connected by railway and the nearest train station is in Evora, 53 km west.
Car Travel in Portugal
Monsaraz is on the M514 from Evora. The N255 heads south from Redondo through Monsaraz to Moura.
Mértola (2 hours), Beja (1 hour, 40 minutes) and Serpa (1 hour, 20 minutes) are all within easy driving distance. Lisbon is 187 km away.
Bus Travel in Portugal
Monsaraz has bus connections with the town of Reguengos de Monsaraz (35 minutes) from where there are onward connections to Evora. Evora has bus and train connections with the capital, Lisbon. There are also daily buses to Reguengos de Monsaraz from Sete Rios Bus Station in Lisbon. The buses take 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Portugal Hotel & Hostel Accommodation
Recommended places to stay in and around Monsaraz include the five-star estate and spa São Lourenço do Barrocal. This luxurious property includes a bar lounge, a restaurant, a pool bar and fitness center.
Also recommended are the four-star Vila Planicie near Fonte do Telheiro, the Sossego da Carminho holiday home, the Monte Alerta Turismo Rural, complete with meditation garden and organic orchard and the Montimerso Skyscape Country House with garden, an outdoor swimming pool and restaurant.
Within the village itself is Dom Nuno - Turismo de Habitação on Rua José Fernandes Caeiro.
See here for a complete listing of hotels in Monsaraz.
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Lisbon Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, Tramcars, and Yellow Boat River Tour
Eating
Try the local cuisine of Alentejo at Taverna Os Templários on Rua Direita or Sabores de Monsaraz on Rua de São Bento. Casa do Forno on Tv. do Sonabre has an outdoor terrace for the views. Xarez at Rua de Santiago 33 comes recommended, too.
Drinking
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Internet
Your hotel or guest house should provide free WiFi.
The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22 degrees Centigrade and 26 degrees Centigrade.
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