Where to stay in Trás-os-Montes
Trás-os-Montes, which means "behind the mountains", is one of Portugal's lesser-known regions that nonetheless offers a colourful mix of sights, natural parks, outdoor activities, traditional events and historic architecture. The traditional architecture in the region is characterised by stone houses with red roofs scattered in picturesque villages. The landscape in the region is rich in vines, grains, vegetables and fruits. The province offers a variety of festivals and celebrations that take place throughout the year, highlighting the region's rich cultural heritage. These festivals include, for example, the Carnival Festival in Podence, the Festival of the Holy Spirits in Bragança and the Festival of São João in Chaves. All in all, Trás-os-Montes is a charming and authentic region that is definitely worth a visit. Whether you want to explore the beautiful nature, try the local cuisine or experience the cultural traditions of the region, the province offers something for everyone.
Discover this beautiful region staying in one of ourwine hotels, country hotels and charming bed & breakfasts in Trás-os-Montes. You can also stay in one of our carefully selected holiday homes in an authentic Portuguese winery.
Trás-os-Montes - the undiscovered Portugal
Start your discovery trip in Vila Real. Located on the banks of a tributary of the Douro River, the city once gained importance in the 16th and 17th centuries when noblemen settled there and built palaces. Today, the city is particularly known as a university town and therefore attracts many young people. There are a number of great sights to discover: the Palace of Mateus, the botanical garden of the university or the archaeological museum are just a few of them.
In the far north-east of Portugal lies the city of Bragança, which welcomes you with its medieval charm. Here you should definitely visit the Castelo de Bragança. The castle was built in the 13th century and today there is a military museum inside, which exhibits weapons and armour from medieval Portugal. The Castelo thus allows visitors to immerse themselves in Portugal's military past in a particularly impressive way. You should also climb the tower of the Castelo to get a magnificent view over the city.
Or visit Celeirós do Douro, a small village known throughout the country for its excellent wines. The village is one of the most traditional in the municipality and offers a beautiful view over the valley of the Pinhão River due to its location above the valley. The village is also home to architecturally unique mansions. Celeirós do Douro is only about 12 km from Pinhão, which is a good place for a day trip. Stay in a lovely holiday flat on the slopes of the river Douro.
In the heart of Trás os Montes you can also visit the Montesinho Nature Park. The nature park, near Bragança, is perfect to relax and enjoy the quiet, unspoilt nature. You will also find colourful wildlife: Iberian wolves, foxes, golden eagles and many more.
The great nature of the region - vineyards, forests, valleys or orchards - can be ideally enjoyed in a beautiful manor house, a country hotel or a lovely holiday home set in an authentic winery.
Gastronomy in Trás-os-Montes
The regional cuisine of Trás-os-Montes has many different specialities. One of them is the "Posta Mirandesa", which is a steak made from a special type of beef that is bred in the region. The meat is very tender and is often served with grilled vegetables.
The region is also known for its cheese production. For example, for the "Queijo de Cabra Transmontano", a traditional goat cheese with an intense flavour.
Another speciality is the "Folar de Chaves", a savoury pastry usually eaten at Easter. It is traditionally filled with meat, sausage and eggs and has a unique taste. But you can also enjoy sweet pastries in the region, the Pão-de-Ló for example. This is famous all over Portugal and is available in different versions throughout the different regions. Basically, the cake consists of eggs, sugar and flour. It is often flavoured with lemon or orange peel. The cake is a popular dessert in Trás-os-Montes and is often eaten with coffee or tea.
Of course, you should not miss the delicious wines from the region here either, the "Vinho Verde", a fresh white wine, and the "Douro", a full-bodied red wine.
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