The best cycling routes around Bragança (Santa Maria)

The modern Sé Nova (Cathedral of Our Lady Queen) was inaugurated in 2001. It is located on Avenida Eng. Amaro da Costa, slightly outside the old town center (but only 1 km from the Sé Velha). It is the first cathedral built in Portugal in the 21st century. It has a contemporary and bold architecture (designed by the architect Vassalo Rosa), with a polygonal shape and a very spacious and bright interior. Behind the altar, there is a huge ceramic panel by the artist Mário Silva that is worth admiring.

Bragança Castle, located in northeastern Portugal, is one of the most impressive and well-preserved medieval castles in the country. Keep: At 33 meters high, it is one of the most imposing in Portugal. Inside, it houses the Bragança Military Museum, where you can see a vast collection of light weaponry, from the 12th century to the First World War. From the top of the tower, there is a breathtaking view over the old city, the new part of Bragança, and the surrounding mountains (Montesinho, Sanábria). The Princess Tower is an old residential outbuilding (Alcáçova Tower) famous for a tragic love legend. In the citadel, you can stroll through the streets within the walls, where the medieval atmosphere remains almost intact.

The Church of Santa Maria, also known as the Church of Our Lady of Sardão, is considered the oldest church in Bragança and is a must-see for anyone visiting the Citadel. Located within the walls, it is in a privileged setting, right next to the famous Domus Municipalis and a few steps from the castle's Keep. Baroque Facade: The entrance stands out for its beautiful portal flanked by two Solomonic (twisted) columns decorated with vines and bunches of grapes, a detail much praised by visitors. Pay particular attention to: The Painted Ceiling: Upon entering, look up. The ceiling of the central nave features a perspective painting (trompe-l'œil) representing the Assumption of the Virgin, full of vibrant colors. It is, without a doubt, the "wow" element of the interior. High Altar: Dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, with a 17th-century image. Also note the Figueiredos Chapel, rich in gilded woodcarving.

Rio de Onor is not just a beautiful village; it's a "living museum" of a way of life that has almost disappeared in Europe. It's worth visiting because it is possibly the village with the most fascinating social history in Portugal. Here are the 4 main reasons to go there: 1. It's a Community Village ("Communitarianism") This is Rio de Onor's great trademark. For centuries, the village lived under a system of total sharing among neighbors, something very rare: Sharing of Goods: The bread oven, the watermill, and even the village bull belonged to everyone. The "Rod of Justice": Decisions and fines for infractions in the village were marked on a wooden rod, managed by the "judge" elected by the people. You can see this history explained at the Casa do Touro (House of the Bull), a small, unmissable museum in the village. 2. One Village, Two Countries Rio de Onor is a village bisected by the international border. On this side is Rio de Onor (Portugal); on the other side is Rihonor de Castilla (Spain). For the inhabitants, the border never really existed: they share land, livestock, and even speak their own dialect (Rionorês), an ancient mixture of Portuguese and Castilian. It's very curious to cross from one country to the other on foot in the middle of the main street. 3. The Schist Landscape and Nature Located in the Montesinho Natural Park, the village is visually stunning. The houses are made of dark schist with wooden balconies, typical of Trás-os-Montes, and are very well preserved. The Onor River, which crosses the village, has clear waters and creates a very pleasant natural river beach in the summer, perfect for picnics. 4. The "Roman" Bridge The old stone bridge (which is actually from the 19th century, despite its popular name) is the village's postcard image. The reflection of the arches in the water with the schist houses in the background creates one of the most photogenic landscapes in Northern Portugal. Visiting Rio de Onor is like stepping back in time and understanding how communities survived in isolation in the mountains, supporting each other. It's a lesson in life and history in an incredible natural setting.

The Bragança Cathedral was designed by the architect Vassalo Rosa and was inaugurated in 2001, being the first cathedral built in the 21st century. It is a 10,000 square meter space, with seating arranged in an amphitheatre and a pentagonal design of the surrounding area, which distinguishes the contemporary architecture of the monument. Dedicated to Our Lady Queen, it reflects the region in which it is located, from the construction materials, the vegetation of the gardens and even the orientation of the doors. Inside, the tabernacle has the geographical shape of the district and the expression lines of Christ drawn on the ceramic panel by Mário Silva, behind the main altar, reveal a Northeastern style.

In the heart of the Montesinho Natural Park, Praia Fluvial de França stretches out peacefully along the banks of the Sabor River. Unsupervised, but perfect for a peaceful swim, it is also the ideal place for picnics, with a welcoming and well-equipped picnic area. A simple yet charming retreat.

Classified as a National Monument in 1910, the castle that stands before our eyes today occupies an area of 3.2 hectares and has an approximate perimeter of 670 meters. Its walled section, with an irregular oval layout, is punctuated by pyramidal battlements and highlighted by 23 towers, of which 10 are turrets, 2 have a hexagonal plan, and 11 are quadrangular. Currently, access to the Keep is via the north-facing side, through an external staircase made of schist masonry, attached to the tower's outer structure. This is flanked by seven magnificent vaulted brick turrets (three to the east, three to the west, and one to the south), which join the wall section on the northern slope of the fortification. Inside, the Military Museum, officially founded in 1983, occupies the four floors, sixteen rooms, terrace, and crypt of the Keep, as well as the entire exterior space bordered by the turrets, including the Princess Tower. This museum possesses a collection of great historical value, allowing visitors to follow the evolution of light weaponry from the 16th century to the mid-20th century. It seeks to promote the appreciation, enrichment, and exhibition of the historical-military heritage attributed to it and to disseminate the cultural values linked to military history. Visitors can also climb to the crenellated terrace to contemplate the marvelous landscapes, overlooking the Nogueira, Montesinho, and Coroa mountain ranges, the peaks of Sanábria, and the Leonese lands.

Bragança Castle, one of the most characteristic examples of medieval architecture, was built in 1409 on the orders of king João I on foundations dating back to the times of the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques. Formed by an imposing keep and a double wall, it has stood up well to the tests of time. The central parade ground, known as the citadel or old town and where the church of Santa Maria and the Domus Municipalis are to be found, retain its medieval lines with narrow streets and small whitewashed houses. Inside the 17-metre wide and 33-metre tall Keep, there are some notable gothic features including the battlements, the railed windows and the stone carved arms of the Casa Real de Avis (Royal House of Avis), founded by king João I. Also inside, there is the Military Museum. Heading up to the top floor is well worth it if only for the wonderful views out over the city and surrounding countryside. Fifteen towers and three gateways complete the walls. The Torre da Princesa (Tower of the Princess), a former belonging of the Casa dos Alcaides stores the legend of a princess taken prisoner. There is also the Porta da Vila (Town Gateway) that welcomes in visitors to the castle.