Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro is in Northern Portugal. The Alto Douro Wine Region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cities
- 🌍 Alijó — it has several megalithic structures, dolmens and castros; the centre of the oldest demarcated wine region in the world
- 🌍 Armamar — famous for its mountain apples, wines, cheeses, smoked meats and sausages
- 🌍 Bragança — one of the oldest cities in Portugal, with a fine medieval castle
- 🌍 Carrazeda de Ansiães — with a 13th-century church and the ruins of a medieval castle
- 🌍 Chaves — one of the most historical cities in Portugal, with a castle, fortresses and historical churches
- 🌍 Freixo de Espada à Cinta — home to the Torre do Galo, one of the most notable and unique examples of Portuguese military architecture
- 🌍 Lamego — an ancient city, dating back to Roman times, where D. Afonso Henriques was acclaimed the first King of Portugal in 1140
- 🌍 Macedo de Cavaleiros — the Geopark Terras de Cavaleiros has important geological heritage, and is classified by UNESCO
- 🌍 Miranda do Douro — a small, but an important historic city on the banks of the Douro river
- 🌍 Mogadouro — home of the Douro International Natural Park
- 🌍 Mirandela — famous for its cuisine, particularly the alheiras sausages
- 🌍 Peso da Régua — a centre of production for Port wine, and home to a museum about it
- 🌍 Sabrosa — birthplace of the famous explorer, Ferdinand Magellan
- 🌍 São João da Pesqueira — the oldest recognized municipality in the country has a wine museum
- 🌍 Tabuaço — known for its wine and handicrafts
- 🌍 Valpaços — visitors are drawn by its built heritage, agritourism facilities and the Valpaços wine
- 🌍 Vila Nova de Foz Côa — a base for visiting the Coa Valley's prehistoric rock art
- 🌍 Vila Real — home of the beautiful Palácio de Mateus
Other destinations
- 🌍 Alto Douro Wine Region — The 2,000-year-old wine region that produces vinho do Porto (Port wine) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region stretches about 75 km (47 mi) along the valley of the River Douro from Cidadelhe in Mesão Frio municipality to Pocinho in Vila Nova de Foz Côa.
- 🌍 Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley — a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Understand
Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (TRAHZ oozh MOHN-t(ih)z ee AHL-too DOH-roo, /ˈtɾaz uʒ ˈmõ.tɨz i ˈaɫ.tu ˈdo.ɾu/)
Due to the region's isolation from outside influence, many folkloric forms have remained preserved up to the modern day. One example would be the area's distinctive traditional bagpipe, the gaita transmontana. Not only did Trás-os-Montes maintain a piping tradition as bagpipes in general declined throughout Europe, but the regional bagpipe also shows many aspects of pre-modern musical scales which have been preserved. Also, in this region that is spoken the second official language of Portugal, the Mirandese language. It's used in the Terra de Miranda area (widely in Miranda do Douro and Vimioso, and partially in Bragança, Mogadouro, and Macedo de Cavaleiros).
Get in
The region is served by Interregional and Regional trains on Comboios de Portugal's (CP) Linha do Douro line along the river valley from Porto to Pocinho (Vila Nova de Foz Côa) via Peso da Régua.
Rede Expressos offers long-distance intercity service from throughout the country into numerous destinations in the region.
Rodonorte provides regional bus service throughout Northern Portugal, as well as connections from major cities outside the region.
Motorways and main routes connect the region with the rest of the country. The main ones in the region are:
- A4 (Autoestrada Transmontana) from Matosinhos (just north of Porto) to Vila Real and Bragança.
- A7 (Autoestrada do Douro) from Póvoa de Varzim to Vila Pouca de Aguiar.
- A24 (Autoestrada do Interior Norte) from Viseu to Lamego, Peso da Régua, Vila Real, and Chaves.
- IP2 from Guarda and the south to Vila Nova de Foz Côa and Macedo de Cavaleiros.
Get around
The methods listed in the "Get in" section can be used for travel within the region.