This activity proposal aims to offer a weekend in the heart of Beira-Alta, in an area where the River Côa stands out. We'll pass through a series of six villages, all of them of great beauty, either because of their heritage or because of the landscapes in which they are located Come and discover or revisit Almeida, Castelo Bom, Castelo Mendo, Alfaiates, Sabugal and Belmonte. On routes of great natural beauty, we'll also get to know part of the River Côa and the historic town of Sabugal, with its imposing castle, as well as the well-preserved riverside area. This is another event not to be missed!

TIME: Departure from Lisbon at 6.30am
RETURN: Arrival in Lisbon at 7.30pm

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 31 DE AGOSTO 2026

Dia 10 de Outubro (sábado)

10.15 a.m. - Scheduled start time for the tour of the Historical Village of Almeida

Points of interest:

- Almeida Village
- Fortress and Bastions
- Castle Ruins
- Clock Tower
- Mother Church and Misericórdia Church
- House of the Wheel of the Exposed
- Del Rey Riding Arena
- Natural landscapes

Distance: 2 kilometres

Difficulty: 1 (Scale from 1 to 5, 1 being the easiest)

Expected duration: 1h15

Village of Castelo Bom

The history of Castelo Bom is lost in time. Although the lands that make up the parish today were probably once occupied by the same people to whom the Foz Côa engravings belong, the first reliable trace of human occupation of Castelo Bom dates back to the Bronze Age, as evidenced by the Bronze Age sword found here and exhibited at the Guarda Museum, it was disputed by the Portuguese, Moors, Leonese and Castilians until it passed definitively into Portuguese hands through the Treaty of Alcanizes in 1297. The Castelo de Castelo Bom is a medieval castle with a walled perimeter of irregular configuration adapted to the topography; a square keep with arrows; full arch and broken arch windows. It has a cistern in the castelejo redoubt and two 17th-century wells that are part of the town's water supply. The circular building (paiol) is probably what remains of the cylindrical tower of the barbican; vaulted cistern; two wells with architectural and urban expression, the El-Rei well with a double staircase façade, with a certain scenographic effect.

Points of interest:

- Village of Castelo Bom
- Roman Fountain
- Calvary and Alminhas
- Poço del Rey
- Porta da Vila
- Paiol
- Pillory and Church of Our Lady of the Assumption
- Natural landscapes

Village of Castelo Mendo

An old town with a marked medieval character, it is made up of two distinct centres: the old town, with its original foundations, made up of a castle, a ruined church and vestiges of medieval town planning, all of which are enclosed by a 12th century wall; and the new town, or Arrabalde de S. Pedro, protected by a wall built during the reign of King Dinis, with marked Gothic features, and heavily affected by the 1755 earthquake.

Distance: 2 kilometres

Expected duration: 1h15

Lunch will be in the form of a picnic, which is the responsibility of each participant

15h45 - Walk in the Village of Alfaiates (Pelourinho, Castle and Albufeira)

The origin of the settlement is not known with certainty. Protohistoric remains have been found, but its name must be of Arab origin (possibly from the term Al-haet - wall or fence). It was part of the Leonese kingdom until the end of the 13th century. Between 1209 and 1226, it was elevated to a town and received a charter from the King of León. With the conquest of the region by King Dinis and the signing of the Treaty of Alcanizes in 1297, it became part of the Portuguese kingdom. As the border became more distant, the town's military importance diminished. Despite this, the wars of the Restoration once again brought destruction to Alfaiates. Its captain, Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas, played a key role in the defence of the region and in the remodelling of the Praça-forte, giving it its current configuration. During the French invasions in 1811, the castle played an important role in the defence of the border area.

Points of interest:

- Pelourinho
- Alfaiates Castle
- Rainha Santa Isabel Square
- Misericórdia Church
- Old Town Hall
- Albufeira and River Beach
- Natural landscapes

Distance: 2 kilometres

Expected duration: 1h

17h15 - Walk in Sabugal - centre, castle and riverside area

20h15 - Group Dinner Suggestion

Dia 11 de Outubro (domingo)

9am - Scheduled start time for the walk

Walking the Meanders of the River Côa

Points of interest:

- Tapada de S. Lázaro Mill
- Marques Mill
- Volta Mill
- Moinho dos Margaridos
- Delfim Mill
- Côa riverside area
- Sabugal Castle
- Natural landscapes

Distance: 12 kilometres

Difficulty: 3 (Scale from 1 to 5, 1 being the easiest)

Walking the Meanders of the River Côa

On this route we pass the Ribeira da Paiã, in a nook and cranny with several testimonies of ancient stone constructions used to harness the waters, continuing through oak and pine forests. At the "Moinhos dos Margaridos", abandoned for decades, there is total tranquillity. The trail runs alongside the river, always covered by a lush forest of huge ash, alder, willow, oak and chestnut trees. You can admire the abandoned dams and mills and be surprised by the playful antics of otters or the hurried flitting of mallard ducks. Observing the fauna is not always easy, with birds being the easiest group to spot, and in this area we can observe mallard ducks or herons. Although more difficult, spotting otters is very rewarding. The river's landscape is also characterised by its traditional stone constructions, used to harness water for agriculture, grazing and milling, but in a very harmonious way. There are stone weirs, with their canals, levadas, stoppings and walkways, to store and ingeniously convey water to the fields or to the mills. In the area of the trail there are six mills of this type, all abandoned several decades ago, but which are interesting testimonies to the traditional architecture of the first half of the 20th century.

1pm - Group Lunch Suggestion

14h30 – Passeio na Aldeia Histórica de Belmonte

Points of interest:

- Belmonte Castle
- Pau Brasil Wooden Cross
- Statue of Pedro Álvares Cabral
- Church of Santiago and Cabrais Pantheon
- Chapel of St Anthony
- Belmonte Synagogue
- Natural landscapes

15h45 - End of activity and return to Lisbon

The price includes:

- Bed and breakfast in a hotel
- 3 Walks and 2 Rides
- The proposed accommodation option includes various room types
- Guided Walks
- Compulsory insurance

Prices with transport

Price in double room: 190€
Price in single room: 220€

Values without transport

Price in double room: 130€
Price in single room: 160€

Seat reservation fee: 50€

Preços válidos até ao dia 31 de Agosto. A partir desta data os valores são de 210€ e 240€ respetivamente (opção com transporte)

- Aldeia de Almeida - Castelo Bom - Castelo Mendo - Alfaiates - Sabugal - Sabugal Castle - Belmonte - Natural landscapes -