Portugal’s Castles and Wine

Arrival and make your way to Arraiolos. Arraiolos is a wonderful medieval village with a beautiful castle.

Today you start riding through the village of Arraiolos which is famous for its pastries and carpets! It has a historic centre which is well worth exploring. Visit the castle dating from 1305 when King Dinis decided to build the huge fortress. The castle has an external wall of 455m and is 2 metres thick and is one of the few rounds shaped in the peninsula.  From its wall, you will see incredible views all around you.

Now cycling along minor undulating roads we reach a cheese farm, where the farm also produces local liqueurs. Further along, we shall come across a vineyard which has an unusual private collection of carriages. Here if you wish you could stop for a break and lunch. We continue later in the afternoon towards Aldeia da Terra and on via a disused railway line called the eco-trail which is traffic-free, into Evora your destination.

Today you´ll visit while cycling some of the most important megalithic monuments of the region. Some of the Neolithic constructions you might see as puzzling and are dated almost from 5000 years ago. Apart from this, you shall be cycling through a pretty landscape with holm oak and cork trees. The ride will finish back in Evora when you should spend the time to explore the streets and get immersed in the ancient pre-roman settlement. The 13th-century bone chapel is a must to see as one of the highlights of the town.

You ride between olive groves to reach the small and traditional village of Nossa Srª de Machede. Here you should stop at a local café for a drink, visit the leather factory and an olive mill (when in season). Then you will pass the Castle of Valongo and visit a cheese factory in Aldeias de Montoito. Arriving at Reguengos de Monsaraz you still have plenty of time for some wine tasting in a gorgeous winery where they still have a room with the old clay pots to keep the wine.

You can visit the famous pottery village of S. Pedro do Corval, where you can see the men working the clay, transforming it into beautiful pots and plates, and the ladies painting them with flowers. We recommend that you have lunch by the lake (take a picnic), with a beautiful view over Monsaraz. Then it is time to conquer the gorgeous village of Monsaraz, built in a castle on top of a hill. From Monsaraz you’ll take in the beautiful view over the lake of the Alqueva dam, the biggest artificial lake in Europe.

Today you leave the schist land and discover the marble kingdom. Start with a gentle rolling morning ride and then visit the impressive sanctuary of Nossa Srª da Boa Nova and the flowery village of Terena. After comes the moon-like landscape of the marble quarries of Bencatel area. From here the «white gold» was extracted to build gorgeous cities such as Estremoz and Borba. We arrive at Vila Viçosa, a favourite resting place for many kings who were followed by many noble people who built beautiful manor houses in the area.

You start by visiting the fabulous Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa and then follow to Borba. In Borba, you can visit one of those typical local cafés where the wine served is produced at the clay pots that decorate the space. It’s the local «handmade wine». You visit a marble quarry and then follow to the Church of Nossa Srª dos Martires, a marble gothic church. Arriving at Estremoz you’ll be impressed by the beautiful architecture and the imposing tower of the castle where you will sleep!

Depart after breakfast.