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Fortress of Almeida – Almeida Castle loop from Vilar Formoso

Fortress of Almeida – Almeida Castle loop from Vilar Formoso

Moderate

5.0

(1)

riders

Fortress of Almeida – Almeida Castle loop from Vilar Formoso

02:39

51.7km

690m

Road cycling

Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: June 20, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 36.1 km for 160 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

1.06 km

Vilar Formoso

Highlight • Settlement

Together with Fuentes de Oñoro they form a border population center known as La Raya. This denomination is the colloquial way of calling the more than 1,200 kilometers of border between the two Iberian countries, but it is used especially in places where the political border is a mere anecdote and both sides share a cultural and historical unity.

Vilar de Formoso has traditionally been a border post. Today it is the railway gateway to the Portuguese country from Europe on the surexpress train that connects Lisbon with France. It is also a prosperous commercial crossroads in the region.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

7.69 km

Sepulturas antropomórficas

Archaeological Site

15.7 km

Castelo Mendo Historic Village

Highlight • Historical Site

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.

Translated by Google •

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30.9 km

Old Bridge Over the Côa River

Highlight • Bridge

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.

Translated by Google •

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35.1 km

Historic Village of Almeida

Highlight • Historical Site

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.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

35.7 km

Fortress of Almeida

Highlight • Castle

The imposing fortress of Almeida that we enjoy today as a heritage tourist attraction was built in the 17th century. It is shaped like a 12-pointed star and is surrounded by a 12-meter-wide photos around the 2.5-kilometre perimeter. At its peak it was guarded by up to 5,000 men and was the scene of numerous battles.

Originally, in the 12th century, the town prospered around a castle that was part of the kingdom of León. Almeida became part of Portugal after the Treaty of Alcañices in 1297.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

35.8 km

Almeida Castle

Highlight • Castle

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.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

51.7 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

33.0 km

14.4 km

3.54 km

691 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

47.4 km

2.39 km

1.00 km

616 m

298 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (800 m)

Lowest point (540 m)

Weather

Sunday 12 July

27°C

11°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 13.0 km/h

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Fortress of Almeida – Almeida Castle loop from Vilar Formoso

Vilar Formoso

Castelo Mendo Historic Village

Old Bridge Over the Côa River

Historic Village of Almeida

Fortress of Almeida

Almeida Castle

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