Castelo de Póvoa de Lanhoso

The Castelo de Póvoa de Lanhoso stands on an enormous granite boulder above the Ave valley, one of the most dramatic settings of any castle in Portugal. Its walls seem to grow out of the rock, and from its keep the whole valley opens below.

A castle on the rock

The fortress dates from the eleventh and twelfth centuries, in the early years of the Portuguese kingdom, and is traditionally associated with the defence of the region during the wars with Castile. It was restored in the twentieth century, and the sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Pilar was later built on the same hill.

What to see

• The keep and the walls, built directly on the granite.
• The sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Pilar, beside the castle.
• Panoramic views over the Ave valley and the surrounding hills.
• The town of Póvoa de Lanhoso below.

Visiting the castle

The castle is at Póvoa de Lanhoso, in the Braga district. Opening hours are published by the municipality, so check the official website before your visit.

Visitor information: cm-povoadelanhoso.pt.

Image credit: Castelo de Póvoa de Lanhoso, by Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.