The best road cycling routes around Parada

Sabugal Castle is one of the most imposing and well-preserved medieval fortifications in Portugal. It is known as the "Castle of the Five Corners" due to the unusual shape of its impressive pentagonal keep, the castle's most iconic feature. Its pentagonal (five-cornered) plan is considered unique in Portuguese military architecture. It is approximately 30 meters high and offers incredible views. The castle has a double ring of walls. You can walk along the ramparts on top of the walls for a panoramic view over the city and the Côa River. From the top, you can see the Côa River winding its way through the city and the natural landscape of the Serra da Malcata mountain range.

Sabugal, a town that deserves a visit to its castle and the entire surrounding area, especially the magnificent river beach on the Côa River.

Almeida stands on the plateau like a table set for history: "Al-Mêda" was the name given to it by the Arabs. Previously, it had been a Lusitanian, Roman, and then Christian fort, conquered in 1190 and definitively Portuguese in 1297. Around the medieval castle grew the town, still marked by the Puerta do Sol. After the Restoration, the town transformed into a veritable war machine: the six-pointed star-shaped fortress, with bastions, ravelins, and underground galleries that served as both shelter and prison. It was the scene of decisive battles, devastated by the explosion of 1810 and contested in the liberal wars, always rising from the ruins.

For centuries, crossing the Côa Valley was only possible via two bridges: the São Roque Bridge and this one, the Ponte Grande, the gateway to Almeida. Built in the 17th century and renovated in the 19th century, the Ponte Grande was forever linked to the Battle of the Côa in 1810, when the Portuguese-British forces resisted the third Napoleonic invasion. Today, the bridge remains a silent guardian of that memory.

Castelo Mendo is a historic village with medieval roots, marked by two walls: the oldest, dating from the 12th century, surrounds the old town with its castle and the church of Santa Maria; the second, built by King Dinis in the 14th century, protected the Gothic suburb. The site was a living border between Portugal and León until the Treaty of Alcanices (1297), guarding strategic passages over the Côa River. At the entrance, two Vetón bellows, stone figures in the shape of wild boars, recall even more remote origins. Classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1984, Castelo Mendo today stands as a rare testament to the border region's history and Portuguese medieval splendor.

Among the secret corners of Portugal, the Côa River is a discreet treasure. It rises in Fóios and flows through valleys and hills until it joins the Douro River in Vila Nova de Foz Côa. Even here, where it flows gently and seems like just a trickle, the valley reveals all its magic. It's the ideal place to rest for a moment, cool your feet, and let yourself be enveloped by the river's serenity before resuming your journey.

Built on the Côa River, Sabugal Castle preserves centuries of borders and memory. Once part of the Kingdom of León, it passed to Portugal in 1297 and became a strategic staging ground for the Portuguese-British troops during the Third French Invasion. Today, it continues to stand as a living testament to the long history of one of Europe's oldest nations.

The Almeida Fort, originally founded as a castle in the 12th century, is one of the best-preserved fortifications in Portugal. It played an important role throughout its history, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. It was heavily damaged during the Siege of Almeida in 1810 but was later rebuilt. The star fort is known for its bastions and deep moats, which were once intended to provide protection against invaders.