Easy hikes and walks around Friestas

It is part of the path that starts in Monçao and goes towards Melgaço; nearby there is a parking and recreation area and at least one cafeteria.

Valença Fortress, also known as Praça-forte de Valença do Minho, is an imposing jewel of Portuguese military architecture with over eight centuries of history. Its origins date back to the 13th century, when King Sancho I and later Afonso III fortified it to protect the border with Galicia. During the Restoration War (17th–18th centuries), it was transformed into a Vauban-style fortress under the engineer Miguel de l’École and the architect Manuel Pinto de Vilalobos, being completed in 1713. The fortress withstood attacks during the Restoration, was captured and recaptured several times, and was also defended during the Napoleonic Wars and the Liberal Wars.

The wooden walkways stretch along the city walls of Monção and the banks of the Minho River to the stunning Parque das Caldas, always with views of neighboring Galicia. Inaugurated in 2021, they are a great way to reach Fortaleza de Monção.

The Danaide Fountain is the most important in Monção and takes its name from the statue that crowns it, at whose base the name "Danaide" can be read. In her right hand, the woman carries a sieve. The original fountain was built in 1837, a little further towards the square. Water flowed from the column, which was collected by the population and also fed a pond where clothes could be washed and livestock watered. In 1869, the column was renovated and engraved with the coat of arms of the city of Monção. In the 1940s, the fountain was remodeled, making it less useful and serving only as a decorative object. The column was placed in its current location.

The town square and the Visitors' Hall owe their name to the local heroine who saved the city from the Castilian invasion in the 14th century through a courageous and cunning act. Her courage is immortalized in a coat of arms and a monument. Lined with trees and paved with Portuguese cobblestones, it is a popular meeting place for the city's social and cultural activities.

The imposing Valença Fortress rises atop a hill, dominating the landscape and leaving an unforgettable impression on those who arrive. More than a symbol, it is the soul of the city, preserving centuries of history within its walls. Built in the 17th century on the ruins of an ancient 13th-century castle, the fortress is a masterful example of military architecture of the period, with its star-shaped walls stretching for an impressive 5.5 kilometers. Upon entering, one immediately senses the strength and grandeur of Valença, one of the oldest towns in Portugal.

very old small chapel

Thick, heavy masonry