Perched high above the River Guadiana close to the frontier with Spain, the tiny medieval walled village of Monsaraz to the east of Évora is one of the most atmospheric places in the entire Alentejo region.
With its narrow cobbled lanes, low-rise houses and striking picture-book castle, visitors can feel the true essence of medieval Portugal in one of the oldest places in southern Europe.
Monsaraz has been inhabited since prehistoric times as the Celts, Romans, Visigoths and Moors each took full advantage of the hill’s defensive potential.
Regained from the Moors in 1167, the town was handed over to the Knights Templar before King Dinis added the castle and fortified walls in the 14th century.
From the ramparts you can gaze east over the Guadiana to neighbouring Spain, or west across the great plains of the Alentejo. In recent years, the village has become a popular stopover for visitors travelling by boat on the vast Alqueva reservoir, one of the largest man-made lakes in Europe.