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BORDER TOWNS

MAIN TOWNS

Now, you have the opportunity to learn more about our region.Click on the symbols

, and towns

EXIT

BRAGA

GUIMARÃES

VIANA CASTELO

PORTO

CAMINHA

MELGAÇO

MONÇÃO

VALENÇA

VILA NOVA CERVEIRA

In the Minho Region, there

are five towns on the

border with Spain:

Melgaço, Monção,

Valença, Vila Nove de

Cerveira e Caminha. On

the margins of the Minho

River, which is the natural

border between Portugal

and Spain, they are old

traditional towns with

ancient Castles and Walls,

once built because of the

successive invasions of

The Barbarian, Arabes,

and even of the French in

the XIXth Century.

Border Towns

Caminha

Melgaço

Monção

Vila Nova de Cerveira

Valença

Also known as “the

heart of the Minho

Region”, it has an

interesting historical

centre, full of churches

and sanctuaries,

visited by thousands of

pilgrims every year.

Now, it is a lively town

especially due to the

dynamic youth who

attend the Minho

University.

Braga is one of

the oldest

Portuguese towns,

founded in roman

times as “Bracara

Augusta”.

Braga

After the defeat of his

mother’s army, D.

Afonso Henriques took

control of the “Condado

Portucalense”, and

declared its

independence in 1143,

thus becoming the first

King of Portugal.

Nowadays, Guimarães

has been declared

World Patrimony by

UNESCO, due to its well-

preserved historical

centre, and has become

an important University

centre, too.

Guimarães is

known as “the

birthplace” of

Portugal. It was the

administrative centre

of the “Condado

Portucalense”, which

belonged to the

Kingdom of Leon, in

the territory of future

Spain.

Guimarães

It has always been a

great business town,

with an important

industrial surrounding

area and a lively

commercial city

centre. Therefore

Oporto is usually called

the “City of Work”..

OportoRaised from the gray

Northern granite, the

city keeps the strength

and courage of the past.

Fair and unbeatten it

offers its

visitors hospitality and

affection.

Oporto

Besides its historical

centre, its shipyard is the

living proof of the

Portuguese Sea

Discoveries, as this is

where many caravels and

ships were built, those

which helped the

Portuguese discover the

“New World” in the XV

and XVI centuries.

In August, thousands of

people visit this town to

attend the religious

festivities of “Senhora da

Agonia”, and enjoy

ancient folk traditions.

Viana do

Castelo is situated at

the mouth of the Lima

River, next to the Atlantic

Ocean. Due to its

priviliged location, it has

been populated since pre-

historic times, as shown in

the pre-historic sites

found in the Sta Luzia Hill,

next to the town centre.

Viana do Castelo

Gastronomy

Arcos de Valdevez

Main course: Cozido (boiled meat and vegetables)

Dessert: Bolo de Mel (honey cake)

Braga Dessert: Pudim Abade de Priscos (pudding)

Main course: Bacalhau à Narcisa (codfish)

Caminha Dessert: Arroz Doce (sweet rice)

Main course: Caldeirada (boiled

mixed fish)

Esposende

Main course: Ensopado de Lampreia (Lamprey)

Dessert: Clarinhas

Guimarães

Dessert: Mexidos (bread honey and nuts)

Main course: Arroz de Cabidela (chicken rice)

MelgaçoDessert: Bucho Doce

Main course: Cabrito Assado (roast goatling)

MonçãoDessert: Sopa

Dourada (golden soup)

Main course: Arroz de Lampreia (lamprey rice)

Ponte de Lima Dessert: Leite Creme (custard)

Main course: Arroz de Sarrabulho (pork and rice)

Terras do Bouro

Dessert: Aletria (sweet noodles)

Main course: Feijão com Couves (meat with beans

and cabbage)

Viana do Castelo Dessert: Meias Luas

(“ half moons”)

Main course: Bacalhau com Grão (codfish with chickpea)

Vila Nova de Cerveira

Main course: Savel

Dessert: Biscoitos de milho (corn biscuits)

Póvoa de Varzim

Main course: Pescada à Poveira

Dessert: Rabanadas (fried bread)

Porto

Main course: Francesinha (“Frenchy”)

Dessert: Tíbia

The National Natural Park of Peneda-Gerês comprises 70000 hectares of protected territory. It is a region full of high mountains and an infinity of microclimates. Its rich flora and fauna are reflected in the inumerous lakes and rivers that cross the hills filled with yellow and pink wild flowers. In winter time, the top of the hills show the grey granit rocks, often covered with snow or involved in the mist. The bells of churches, the whistle of sheppards, the barking of their dogs ( especially the “Castro Laboreiro” local breed of dogs ) resound in the wind. It is not only the land of wild game, wolves, deers, eagles and wild pigs but also the land of the wild horses called “garranos” – a bit of Paradise on Earth...

The National Natural Park of Peneda-Gerês comprises 70000 hectares of protected territory. It is a region full of high mountains and an infinity of microclimates. Its rich flora and fauna are reflected in the inumerous lakes and rivers that cross the hills filled with yellow and pink wild flowers. In winter time, the top of the hills show the grey granit rocks, often covered with snow or involved in the mist. The bells of churches, the whistle of sheppards, the barking of their dogs ( especially the “Castro Laboreiro” local breed of dogs ) resound in the wind. It is not only the land of wild game, wolves, deers, eagles and wild pigs but also the land of the wild horses called “garranos” – a bit of Paradise on Earth...

National Natural Park of Peneda-Gerês

Peneda-Gerês

The windy beaches with golden sand of the Northern Coast fo Portugal are famous for being rich in iodine. That is why so many people flow to these beaches, in summertime, despite the cold water (18 degrees on average) .

The windy beaches with golden sand of the Northern Coast fo Portugal are famous for being rich in iodine. That is why so many people flow to these beaches, in summertime, despite the cold water (18 degrees on average) .

The Beaches

The Beach

Vinho VerdeVinho Verde is a special wine produced in the Northwest of Portugal. With a 2,000- year-old tradition, this wine is as fresh as the landscape, as scented as the heather which grows in the woods, as unique as the ancient culture of the Northern peoples of Portugal. It is a pleasure to drink white “vinho verde” when you are having fish or sea food, and red “vinho verde” with the rich gastronomy of the Minho Region.

Vinho Verde is a special wine produced in the Northwest of Portugal. With a 2,000- year-old tradition, this wine is as fresh as the landscape, as scented as the heather which grows in the woods, as unique as the ancient culture of the Northern peoples of Portugal. It is a pleasure to drink white “vinho verde” when you are having fish or sea food, and red “vinho verde” with the rich gastronomy of the Minho Region.

Vinho Verde