But the biggest attraction is undoubtedly the castle of Linhares, with its imposing towers. Its origins are even older, but the way in which the castle can be seen today date in much of the thirteenth century.

The Linhares da Beira Castle is located in the village and Parish of Linhares da Beira, Celorico Municipality of Beira, District of Guarda, Portugal.

Situated on a rocky hill in northwest foothills of the Serra da Estrela, dominates the valley of the river Mondego. Your last dives into the legends and is considered one of the most important medieval fortifications of Beira Interior.

The medieval castle

The road communication facility have not left Linhares oblivious to the events of the Christian Reconquista of the peninsula. Some authors have questioned whether the Linhares mentioned among other villages in the granting of a charter undated, by King Ferdinand I of León, would this village in Beira, or the same name, in the Douro.

With the independence of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, in order to promote their settlement and defense, granted it a charter in 1169. This privilege was confirmed in 1217 by Alfonso II.

The first historical reference to the castle dates from sometime in the first three years of the reign of Sancho I (late twelfth century), connected to an invasion of that stretch of the border by the kingdom of Leon forces. They were mayors of Linhares Castle and the Beira Celorico Castle respectively brothers Rodrigo and Gonçalo Mendes. Finding the latter surrounded in Celorico attacker, Rodrigo rushed to the people of Celorico to the aid of his brother, achieving victory under the invocation of Our Lady of the Azores, in devotion to whom they erected a chapel halfway between both locations, and makes each year a pilgrimage to May 3.

Although not known to primitive setting of this castle, is believed to have shown traces of the Romanesque style, with the keep isolated inside the parade ground and engaging about adapted to the terrain. In the reign of King Afonso III in the inquiries of 1258, it is mentioned that the residents of Sátão were required to anúduva (aid in the repair of military structures) in the castles of the Guard and Linhares, which shows, together with the strategic importance the latter on the defensive framework of the kingdom at the time that you were being proceeded works.

Under the reign of King Dinis, just as expressive in the Portuguese fortifications in the period, a new campaign works took place in Linhares. This sovereign donated the fields of town and its castle to his son, Jonathan Sanchez.

The town and its castle were involved in the second war that Ferdinand moved against Henry of Castile, being surrounded and taken by the forces of this when, invading Portugal by Beira, in early 1373, marched to Viseu de Almeida, and hence on Lisbon . With the death of Ferdinand, to open the crisis of 1383-1385, the mayor of Linhares, Martim Afonso de Melo, took the side of Beatrice and John I of Castile, as indeed did much of the main Portuguese nobility. Been falling under the Master of Avis domain, this gave the landlord of the village Egas Coelho, Hidalgo your confidence (14 August 1384), soon succeeded by Martin Vasques da Cunha that would highlight, in front of the people of Linhares in the battle of Trancoso in spring 1385.

With peace, the castle lost its strategic role, his absence news until the seventeenth century, when the public clock in the tower was installed.

Serra da Estrela cheese, King of Portuguese Cheese

Queijo Serra da Estrela is a cheese made in mountainous region of Serra da Estrela in Portugal, which has been granted PDO status in the European Union.

The region where the Serra da Estrela cheese can be manufactured is limited to an area of 3,143.16 km², which comprises the municipalities of Celorico da Beira, Fornos de Algodres, Gouveia, Mangualde, Manteigas, Nelas, Oliveira do Hospital, Penalva do Castelo, Carregal do Sal, and Seia.

The production of the cheese has to follow very rigorous rules. It is made from sheep’s milk, mostly during the months of November to March. Its maturation period has specific norms and must last thirty days at least. The texture of the paste varies depending on its age, from a very soft semi-liquid when young, to a soft but sliceable solid when older. It is a cured cheese created by artisanal producers with a white or slightly yellow color and a uniform creamy consistency with at most a few small holes in it. Its particular qualities result from slow draining of curdled raw sheep’s milk which has been coagulated by using local Cynara cadunculusthistle rather than rennet.

The cheese is formed into a somewhat irregular wheel with slightly bulging sides and upper surface. It typically has a soft well-formed rind, smooth and thin with a uniform straw-yellow colour, and is traditionally bound in cloth.

Burel,  traditional Portuguese woollen fabric

The most medieval fabric Portuguese is back and this time, does not stop the highlands of the country. From Serra da Estrela to Japan, the burel has been conquering the world.

Made from 100% pure wool, woolen cloth has long been the fabric elected by the highlanders of generations of Portuguese highlands. By “large thermal comfort” provided and its “natural waterproofing”, the sackcloth was used to protect from the cold and shelter those most exposed to low temperatures, for example, the shepherds.

You can find several products like blankets, shawls, and scarves, reusing and recreating old patterns with contemporary shapes and colours.

The point is located on the edge of the parishes of Unhais da Serra (Covilha), St. Peter (Butters) Loriga (Seia) and Alvoco da Serra (Seia), and therefore belonging to three municipalities: Covilha, Butters and Seia . The tower also gives the name to the locality where it is located, the highest part of serra.

The actual altitude of this area is 1993 m, as arrangements introduced by measurements taken by the Army Geographic Institute. Precisely at the highest point the tower was built, a geodetic milestone that marks the highest point of the Serra da Estrela. There is a large gazebo which shows a clear view of the landscape of valleys embedded in a contact zone between schist and granite, cut by several courses of water. The lowest temperatures of Portugal are recorded on the summit of Serra da Estrela, coming even reach -20 ° C in winter.

Stunning View

The Tower is famous for snowfall during the winter months, attracting a large number of tourists. During the summer, on a clear day, the view can cover up the sea, seeing in the distance the Figueira area Foz.

On site there is a restaurant and shops with local food, such as cheese of Serra da Estrela, Vodafone Ski Resort and a recorded monument on the rock in honor of Our Lady of Good Star, patroness of pastores.

The glaciation (which occurred 20,000 years) led to the existence of perpetual snow that melted and made compact. He graduated so an icy summit at the Presidential Tower, this would have an area of 70 km2 and 80 m thick.

These valleys have originated in the passage of ice languages that have shaped through its strength to escoarem from the cone tower. These tongues of ice formed due to a progressive increase of temperature, although always negative.

There are five routes outlined by ice:

- Zêzere Glacier Valley, the largest in Europe;

- Alforfa Glacier Valley;

- Loriga Glacier Valley Glacier;

- Valley Covão Grande;

- Valley Covão Urso(Bear) Glacier.

Coat

The Estrela Mountain dog comes in two coat types. Both types should have coat resembling the texture of goat hair.

Long coat: The thick, slightly coarse outer coat lies close over the body and may be flat or slightly waved, but never curly. Undercoat is very dense and normally lighter in color than the outer coat. The hair on the front sides of the legs and the head is short and smooth. Hair on the ears diminishes in length from the base of the ears to the tips. The hair on the neck, the buttocks, the tail, and the back side of the legs is longer resulting in a ruff at the neck, breeches on the buttocks and backs of the legs, and feathering on the tail. The males can have a “lion’s mane”.

Short coat: The outer coat is short, thick, and slightly coarse, with a shorter dense undercoat. Any feathering should be in proportion.

Color

Fawn, wolf gray and yellow, with or without brindling, white markings or shadings of black throughout the coat. All colors have a dark facial mask, preferably black. Blue coloration is very undesirable.

Afonso with Zico and Pepe, Still Pupppies

Size

Desirable height for mature males is 25½ – 28½ inches and for mature females is 24½ – 27 inches. Mature males in good working condition weigh between 88 and 110pounds. Mature females in good working condition weigh between 66 and 88 pounds.

Temperament

A large, athletic dog, the Estrela Mountain Dog is a formidable opponent for any predator – fortunately, it is not often called upon to rise to anyone’s life-or-death defense. It is calm but fearless and will not hesitate to react to danger, making it an exceptional watchdog as well as an excellent guard dog. It is intelligent, loyal, and faithful, affectionate to those it knows but wary of those it does not. It is instinctively protective of any children in its family. It needs early and continued socialization to be trustworthy around small pets and other dogs.

It’s important to begin training and socializing the Serra da Estrela dog from puppyhood to nurture its acceptance of different situations. This is a strong independent-minded breed that will need persistent training and consistent leadership. It has a tendency to bark, especially when protecting his or her territory. As with most livestock guardians, the Serra da Estrela dog is not a “pet” for everyone. Strong ownership is paramount.

The village of Piódão, is located on the slopes of Serra do Açor(Açor Mountain Range).

The dwellings are traditional shale walls, ceiling covered with slabs and wooden doors and windows painted blue. The aspect that artificial light gives it overnight in conjunction by the provision of houses, made received the name of “Village Manger”.

The inhabitants are dedicated mainly to agriculture (corn, potatoes, beans, vineyard), raising livestock (sheep and goats) and in some cases to beekeeping.

The flora is largely composed of chestnuts, olive, pine, heather and gorse. The fauna consists mainly of rabbits, hares, wild boars, foxes, weasels, martens, eagles, hawks, crows, jays, partridges and small rodents.

Currently, the desertification of inland areas affects almost all villages of this parish. Younger populations emigrated abroad or to the coastal areas in search of better living conditions, return to their origins, especially during festive seasons to relive the past and being reunited with their counterparts.

There have always been ethnic and religious minorities in Portugal, being Jews, Moors and later Roma, the most significant contingent. The first probably prior to the invasions of the second, and often enjoyed protection and royal favor, mercy of their fortunes and business activities, and to its cultural influence. Inserted in Portugal the farming and fishing, will devote himself to offices or liberal activities (capital trade, science, medicine, pharmacy, crafts, jewelery, shoemaking, tailoring and weaving) and gradually to trade and especially the finance, did not know where big competition, not accessible to the Christian the possibility of interest income through credit under such usury.

Throughout the Middle Ages, inhabited preferably – according to their professional occupations – the largest urban agglomerations of the Kingdom, in their own neighborhoods (Jewish quarters; Mourarias in the case of the Arabs or Moors, fewer), practicing their religion, speaking their language and maintaining their ancestral traditions. Diplomatically, maintained loyalty to the Crown, it is subordinate. Apart from a few incidents, mainly motivated by religious issues, his life in the United did not run great risks never being called into question.

Expulsion of the Jewish community of Portugal

After the expulsion of the Jews from Spain by Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1492, about 60,000 Jews who refused to convert to the Christian religion emigrated to Portugal. John II, influenced by prominent Jews in the Court, welcomes them, but requires them to pay eight ducats of ouronota 1, indeed large sum for the time, to remain in Lusitanian lands (those who could not pay this amount saw half of his property confiscated to the Crown). It was intended to fix skilled workers, missing in Portugal. Late John II, succeeded him Manuel, monarch proved tolerant of Jews who could not pay. However, in March 1497, is imposed the expulsion of the Jewish community in Portugal through a law that came into effect that year. To prevent the departure of so many people (and hence capital) of the Kingdom, Manuel decrees forced conversion of Muslims and Jews to Christianity within ten months, thus creating the concept of a New Christian. If not accepted, would have to leave Portugal and its overseas colonies. The measure was an attempt to mix religion in the Iberian peninsula and given in marriage agreement between Manuel and the Infanta Isabella of Aragon, the heir date of the Catholic Monarchs.

In April 1499, one license prohibits the output of the Kingdom to New Christians. However, they were not limited the rise to political or administrative positions and could marry Old Christians. In the time of King Manuel, the New Christian title was not for admission to church or state positions. Despite a degree of freedom of conscience and some royal protection, the situation has taken dramatic contours on Easter 1506. On 19 April, began a popular uprising driven by Dominican friars against the New Christians, which lasted for three days . The crowd moved by religious fanaticism persecuted, raped, tortured and killed hundreds of people accused of being Jewish. This episode, known as the Massacre of Lisbon, stressed the growing anti-Semitism climate in Portugal and led many families to leave the kingdom.

Inquisition of persecution

Some new Christians, however, remained true to their original religion (thus called Marranos or secret Jews) and figured out ways to hide their religious conviction. The sausages, a type of chicken meat filled and other birds, for example were created to mimic the traditional pork sausages, forbidden to the Jews. The failure of the seriousness of many conversions led to John III send install the Inquisition in Portugal in 1536, and the establishment of a distinction of policy towards the New Christians.

In the shadow of the Inquisition, never the New Christians, mostly Jews, were tranquility in Portugal. Continued clandestinely to flee to the Netherlands, Constantinople, North Africa, Thessaloniki, Italy and Brazil, maintaining secret ties and supporting the Portuguese New Christians. Many of the 1,500 deaths of the Portuguese Inquisition were New Christians, as well as much of its 25,000 processes. The Holy Office would influence the disappearance of offices in the regions of Tras-os-Montes and borders, where the Jews were the driving force behind the production of textiles, silk and wool. In addition to the confiscation of property, the New Christians were also victims of blood purification certificates in applications for public office, military or of the Church, that away by having inquisitorial confirmation.

Chapel of Santa Maria do Castelo

Chapel of St. Michael’s Castle

Military Arquitecture:
Castle and walls of Monsanto
Tower of Lucano or Relógio
Public civil Arquitecture:
Source Forge
Fountain of Middle and Fountain of New Source
Pillory Monsanto8
Oven
Tanks
Old wine cellar
Bank of patience
Private civil §Arquitectura [edit | edit source]
Pousada de Monsanto
The Pinheiros and Fountain Mono
Solar da Graciosa Marquis Family (Monsanto the Tourist Office)
Solar Solar Melo Family or the Baixa
Solar Family Pinheiro or Solar Mono Source
Solar of Monsanto Priors
House of Fernando Namora
Old office of Fernando Namora
The century house (1628)
House of Governors

Despite the archaeological survey of its proto-history is manifestly insufficient to accurately trace a historical context of its foundation, will be fair to say that in that stone cluster are traces of an earlier occupation to the Neolithic.
The natural fortress condition and Neolithic axes fragments found on the hill do suppose that Monsanto was a pre-Roman castro.
The proximity of the ancient Egitânia (Idanha-a-Velha) and the road connecting Merida to Compostela and the numerous traces of the Roman occupation (pottery, coins, jewelery and funerary inscriptions) are clear signs that the Monte Santo have welcomed Romans, what it should be a “oppidum”.
To the Romans succeeded by the Goths and the Arabs there have left indelible marks of their passage. Even today, much of ethnographic and anthropological repository of these people survive on the people of the land. An example of this is the feast of Santa Cruz on May 3rd. Pilgrimage deeply marked by pagan rituals, later Christianized.
Underlying the party is the legend of the besiegers. Thus, according to tradition, many centuries ago, Monsanto would be surrounded by a Moorish or Spanish army. The siege lasted seven years, during which the village was depleting supplies until only one remains calf and one bushel of wheat.
The tragedy seemed imminent. Then an old woman of the village masterminded an ingenious plan. After feeding the calf with the last bushel of wheat, was thrown over the cliff, falling in the middle of the besieging camp.
Warriors saw that the villagers gave the luxury of throwing a well nourished cow to the “backyard”, ruled that Monsanto would be under the protection of a strange divine power. That was reason enough for embalarem backpack and put the miles. This is how the shrewdness of an “old lady” Monsantina defeated the besieging troops.
This episode has occurred in the 3rd of May and is on this day that is celebrated every year the Feast of the Holy Cross or the Castle.
The proliferation of legends and Moorish traditions, highlighting the tambourine (traditional musical instrument that should only be played by women) survive as clear evidence of a strong presence of the Arab peoples in this region.
The construction of Monsanto fortress, deeply connected to the history of settlement building, lost in the gloom of the world.
Some researchers support the thesis of Suevo-Visigothic origin of the fortress, but strictly speaking, only from the Portuguese monarchy foundation to define precise chronological contours.
Once you have completed the Reconquista of the region from the Moors, Afonso Henriques recognized the strategic military value of the fortress. So the King decided to send rebuild the fortress and repopulate Monsanto giving you great benefits by charter of 1174, later confirmed by D. Sancho I (1190) and Alfonso II (1217).
Even before assigning the first charter, D. Afonso Henriques had donated to the impregnable fortress D. Gualdim Pais, Grand Master of the Knights Templar.
The strategic importance of Monsanto as a defensive bastion was growing with the passage of centuries. The fortress served as the advanced sentry post from where allowed sighting in advance hostile incursions into Portuguese territory.
In 1510, Manuel rises the village to village, honoring it with the blessing of being able to use his shield the armillary sphere.
The impregnability of the fortress is definitely proven with the last two attempts of occupation by invading armies. The first by Don Luis de Haro (Minister of Philip IV) in 1658, and the second by the Duke of Berwick in 1704. The failure of these daring invaders have deterred similar attempts. From there the fortress gradually lost its military importance.
At the beginning of a violent explosion in the nineteenth century castle powder magazine causes the partial destruction of the fortress and walls.
Later the last garrison leaves the village, placing a lapidary stone a heroic story of courage and fearless defense of the Portuguese border. It was the end of a glorious period in the life of Monsanto.

For centuries, Monsanto was being minutely carved in a large rocky hill. Tempered human genius with due tenacity was forming altars, tombs and houses. This resulted in a harmonious whole and coherent architectural that one can not remain indifferent.
If Zeus and his retinue of Greek gods were stripped of Olympus, certainly not desdenhariam an address as Monsanto. A true Olympus stylish border.
Typical houses of Monsanto “live” next door to the granite rock that protects them.
Wander the winding alleys, discover the sunny nooks and look the look by the majestic landscape are more than enough reasons for the visitor to get lost in the discovery of the land and its people, aged and serene.
In addition to the own urban area and castle, Monsanto also contains various heritage elements worthy of closer look.
Inside the walls, the chapels of St. John and Santa Maria. The first was presumably built in the twelfth century and still boasts a Romanesque portal, and facing the north, a lancet arch.
However, the most important Monsanto chapel is the St. Miguel. Romanesque building (or what remains of it), is located between the castle and the medieval watchtower. Built on a cult altar to Mars, the chapel constitutes clear evidence of the existence of a primitive village. Despite the latent state of disrepair still can enjoy the remarkable axial port bow of perfect round and decorated capitals.
Near the village door is St. Anthony’s Chapel (See. XVI), with four archivolts portal flanked by two canes decorated with the fleur de lis.
As for manor houses, the Solar Graciosa Marquis is the most important, here we can find installed the Tourist Office. Built in the eighteenth century belonged to the family of Geraldes Andrade, Medellin lords and Captain-General of Monsanto.
Finally, the ex-libris of Monsanto. The imposing medieval fortress, with several enclosures, doors and staircases. Inside the walls stand out the chapel of Our Lady of the Castle, the false door and keep. The castle was classified as a national monument in 1948.