Traditionally made building materials, streets shaped by the Middle Ages and the history of the railway offer different ways to explore culture and local history in Montemor-O-Novo. If you are looking for hotels in Montemor-O-Novo, you can first decide what interests you most: crafts, architecture, exhibitions or food and wine. These themes can help you decide whether the town suits your travel interests.

Crafts and their season

At Telheiro da Encosta do Castelo, traditional building materials such as tijolo burro and tijoleira are made by hand. They are produced using wooden moulds in the open air. From March to October, the materials dry in the sun and are then fired in wood-fired kilns stoked directly. The season is therefore part of the production process: if its timing is important to you, take March to October into account when planning your trip. Shaping, sun-drying and firing give the craft a clear sequence, rather than describing it only by the names of the materials.

Streets, castle and town history

The “Centro Histórico | Arrabalde” walking route passes through streets with a medieval layout and by architectural features, particularly traces of Manueline art. If you are interested in historic urban design, you can pay attention both to the course of the streets and to individual architectural details. This offers a different way to explore history than visiting exhibitions: here, the focus is on street layout and architecture.

The Centro Interpretativo do Castelo presents aspects of Montemor-o-Novo’s history and development since antiquity in a permanent exhibition and temporary exhibitions. The centre is housed in the former 14th-century church of S. Tiago. The exhibition themes and the building bring together different historical connections. The Castelo de Montemor-o-Novo is the original enclosure of the former town. If you are interested in a particular temporary exhibition, check what is currently on before your trip.

Convent, art and archaeology

The Convento de São Domingos dates back to the 16th century. The former convent church preserves a significant ensemble of murals and Azulejo decoration. The convent museum also has sections devoted to archaeology and pottery. Different themes therefore come together here: artistic decoration, material history and craft traditions. If you are interested in more than architecture, you can also explore archaeological finds and pottery here.

Local cuisine and railway heritage

For the culinary side of your trip, Quinta da Plansel offers Wine-&-Dine menus. They combine local cuisine with oenology and the estate’s own wines. This is a specific option for travellers who would like to explore food and wine as a connected theme.

Railway heritage also offers a distinct way to explore the region. A route takes in the former railway bridge over the Almansor River, former station buildings, halts and level crossings, as well as other elements of railway heritage. This makes it possible to distinguish between different interests: on the one hand, historic streets and architectural traces; on the other, the built remains of the railway. If you are comparing accommodation in Montemor-O-Novo, these different interests can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Discover more destinations: Foros de Vale Figueira, Cabrela, São Cristóvão, Olheiro, Lavre, Amendoeira.

Go to the main travel overview: Montemor-O-Novo.