Tourist Sights: Monforte Castle and Bolideira Rock

Castelo de Monforte

The Medieval Town - The Museum - The Hot Springs - The Castle - The Forts - Santa Maria Maior Church - Misericordia and Madalena - Azinheira Church - Rural Chapels - Vidago - Monforte Castle and Bolideira Rock

The Castle of Monforte owes its existence to a medieval concelho called Monforte do Rio Livre that became extinct in the last century. The castle and its walls were built to serve as a defense for the village.

You can reach the castle by taking the road north to Spain and then turning right on the road to Bragança. About 15 km from Chaves there is a sign indicating a dirt road to the right that goes up about 1 km to the castle.

The castle is in a state of disrepair but you can walk around the ramparts. There is a spectacular view of the Tâmega valley. The castle was abandoned in 1853 together with the village. By the beginning of this century there were no longer people living there. From this large village there are now only ruins, unrecognizable and covered with weeds. For more photos see Photo 01, Photo 02, and Photo 03.

The Bolideira Rock

A few kilometers past the entrance to Monforte, 18 kms from Chaves, the traveler should make a point of stopping to visit the Bolideira Rock, a granite rock, three meters high and about 10 meters long, weighing several tons. Its name, bolideira, (balancing) means that, because of its equilibrium on top of another rock it can be moved, according to tradition, even by a small child. It must have been a very strong child because when I tried it nothing happened. See another photo of the rock

Photo from CHAVES

The Medieval Town - The Museum - The Hot Springs - The Castle - The Forts - Santa Maria Maior Church - Misericordia and Madalena - Azinheira Church - Rural Chapels - Vidago - Monforte Castle and Bolideira Rock