Castelo Branco, Portugal

Castelo Branco is the capital of the Castelo Branco district and a municipality of the Beira Baixa (52 272 inhabitants · 1 438 km²), on the slope of the hill of Cardosa in the interior of central Portugal, between the Ponsul and the Ocreza. The Knights Templar founded the town in the 12th century, and its Baroque bishops' garden is one of the best known in the country.

The history of Castelo Branco has its own page.

Beaches in Castelo Branco

Castelo Branco has two river beaches on the national bathing-water register.

Monuments in Castelo Branco

• Castelo Branco Castle: the Templar castle on the hill, with its walls, the church of Santa Maria do Castelo and a view over the city.
• Sé de São Miguel: the cathedral of the city, in the historic centre.
• Domus Municipalis: the 16th-century building on the Praça Velha, once town hall, court and prison.

Museums and culture in Castelo Branco

• Tavares Proença Museum: the city museum in the former bishops' palace, with the embroidered silk bedspreads of Castelo Branco.
• Cargaleiro Museum: the museum of the painter and ceramicist Manuel Cargaleiro, open since 2005.
• Centro de Cultura Contemporânea: a modern building with exhibitions of contemporary art.

Nature in Castelo Branco

• Episcopal Palace Garden: the Baroque garden of the bishops, with its granite statues, five lakes and the Stairway of the Kings.
• Parque da Cidade: the city park, facing the museum.
• Barragem de Santa Águeda: a reservoir west of the city, used for fishing and water sports.

Leisure in Castelo Branco

• City visits: Visiting Castelo Branco covers transport, the historic centre, the embroidery and the food.
• In the district: the historic village of Monsanto, in Idanha-a-Nova, and the Naturtejo Geopark, which covers Castelo Branco and neighbouring municipalities.
• Further north: the Serra da Estrela, the highest range of mainland Portugal.

Parishes of Castelo Branco

• Castelo Branco (34 455 inhabitants · 170 km²): the city parish, with the historic centre, the castle hill and the bishops' palace.
• Alcains (4 615 inhabitants · 37 km²): the most populous parish of the municipality after the city.
• Almaceda (511 inhabitants · 72 km²): a northern parish with the Almaceda river beach.
• Benquerenças (637 inhabitants · 61 km²)
• Cebolais de Cima (1 609 inhabitants · 25 km²)
• Escalos de Baixo (637 inhabitants · 46 km²)
• Escalos de Cima (689 inhabitants · 15 km²)
• Freixial (668 inhabitants · 41 km²)
• Lardosa (888 inhabitants · 44 km²)
• Louriçal do Campo (557 inhabitants · 22 km²)
• Lousa (567 inhabitants · 36 km²)
• Malpica do Tejo (381 inhabitants · 246 km²): the largest parish of the municipality by area, on the Tagus.
• Mata (401 inhabitants · 24 km²)
• Monforte da Beira (320 inhabitants · 120 km²)
• Ninho do Açor (332 inhabitants · 12 km²)
• Póvoa de Rio de Moinhos (861 inhabitants · 41 km²)
• Salgueiro do Campo (775 inhabitants · 30 km²)
• Santo André das Tojeiras (588 inhabitants · 75 km²)
• São Vicente da Beira (961 inhabitants · 100 km²)
• Sarzedas (1 017 inhabitants · 172 km²)
• Sobral do Campo (290 inhabitants · 31 km²)
• Tinalhas (513 inhabitants · 16 km²)

Healthcare in Castelo Branco

Guides to Castelo Branco