Coimbra Medieval Castles Guided Tour

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Our first stop will be at Montemor-o-Velho Castle, the first castle in Portugal. We will learn about its history, the connection to our first King, D. Afonso Henriques, the founder of the country. We will walk through centuries-old walls and discover some remarkable episodes of history that took place in this beautiful and well-preserved castle.

   30 min

2. Then we will visit the emblematic castle of Soure. Unique, both for its location and for its connection to the Knights Templar who settled here for the first time in Portugal. We will also visit the castle's interpretation center and its surrounding areas.

   30 min

3. Our next stop will be at the majestic castle of Penela, a castle whose origin dates back to an ancient Roman fort, and which was rebuilt and used by D. Afonso Henriques as a military instrument of defense, integrating the defensive line of the Mondego Castles. The castle was built entirely under stone, and is one of the most beautiful examples of medieval architecture at the time of its construction. He will get to know the history, legends, discover some necropolys and see some models of medieval constructions.

   30 min

4. At our last stop, we will visit the Castle of Foz de Arouce, a castle whose foundation dates back to the Moorish king Arounce, and which was later used by King D. Afonso Henriques as another instrument of defense of the city of Coimbra, also integrating the network of Castles of the Mondego. On this visit we will not only visit the castle and learn a little more about its history and associated legends, but also get to know the places that surround it, which make it a true paradise. The castle is located in the middle of the Lousã mountain range, and its location is undoubtedly the result of a strategic vision that would give it a protective function.

   40 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 2 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Coimbra

• Its from-price is close to the median of the 209 experiences we list in Coimbra.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 102 of 209.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Coimbra

Coimbra is a hill city on the Mondego River in central Portugal, home to a centuries-old university, a baroque library and its own style of fado.

Coimbra rises above the Mondego River in central Portugal and was the country's capital in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Its university, founded in 1290 and settled in Coimbra from 1537, is the oldest in Portugal, and the old campus on the hill is a UNESCO site with the gilded Joanina Library and a tall clock tower. Students still wear black academic capes.

Top-ranked sights in Coimbra: University of Coimbra (Universidade de Coimbra).

See all 209 experiences in Coimbra