Manteigas

In the heart of the Serra da Estrela, Manteigas sits in a deep valley carved by ancient glaciers. Its granite streets, its spa waters and its position between the high peaks make it one of the best bases for exploring Portugal’s highest mountain range.

History and identity

The village grew around its wool trade and its mountain pastures, and the glacial valley of the Zêzere — one of the few in Portugal — shaped its landscape and its life. Its spa, known since the nineteenth century, made Manteigas a summer retreat for the people of the interior.

What to see and do

• The Zêzere glacier valley, with its viewpoints and trails.
• The village’s granite streets and old spa quarter.
• The high plateaus and the ski slopes of the serra.
• The mountain lakes and the source of the Zêzere.

Gastronomy and traditions

Manteigas is a land of Serra da Estrela cheese, mountain honey and warming winter dishes. Its festivals follow the transhumance and the seasons of the serra.

Nearby

The village is in the middle of the Park Naturalny Serra da Estrela, between Seia and Covilhã.

Visiting Manteigas

Manteigas is in the Serra da Estrela, in central Portugal, reached by road. Access to the village is free; for the spa and mountain conditions, check the official website before your visit.

Visitor information: cm-manteigas.pt.

Image credit: Manteigas, Portugal, by Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.