Alto Tâmega - Majestic Medieval Castle of Chaves

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog :-)

We have been discovering many cities in our country that have left us amazed and always for the best reasons. All of them full of history with fascinating monuments, wonderful food and people always willing to tell a little of what they know about the place where they live.
We are always warmly welcomed and if we approach someone with a question we have been lucky enough to have a smile and show us a little more about their city.

As soon as I hear the word Chaves "Keys"(and they're not the ones for opening the door) I immediately remember one of my favorite savory snacks. A puff pastry pastry, filled with minced meat. It may seem simple but not everyone knows how to make it and we had the opportunity to buy and taste some at the most famous pastry shop in Chaves but I'll tell you about that later and tell you the name of it in case you want to go there and try it.

As soon as we arrived in the city, we parked the car in Largo do Bacalhau (the parking spaces are almost all paid) and walked through the city streets. It's quite big although everything is relatively close. We made a small itinerary for 3 days so we could see everything calmly, take photos and then document it here. I really like being able to see posts with tips and itineraries because we end up getting an idea of how we can better manage our time. The best time to visit the "most beautiful city in Portugal" will be in the summer months (June to September). The city tends to be very rainy in winter, but we were lucky as São Pedro gave us 3 days of sun and a mild temperature for the season.

We then begin our visit to Chaves Castle and its Keep (which can be seen from almost any point in the city)
We started with its beautiful gardens and noticed that a video clip of a fado singer was being filmed. I'm honest, I can't tell you who it was, but we sat there because we were treated to beautiful music and we couldn't pass up the opportunity for a practically private mini concert. The good thing about taking these getaways on weekdays is that everything is much calmer.

In addition to the gardens, we also have a privileged view as there is a viewpoint where everyone looks out to see the city and the Tâmega River passing below. But the main element is what catches the most attention.
We are in front of an imposing spectacle: the majestic medieval castle.
Built on the ancient foundations of the Roman walls that surrounded the town, Chaves Castle testifies to the important improvements carried out by different peoples, from the Suevi, Alans and Visigoths to the Muslims, who conquered the fortification in the year 713.
At the height of the Christian reconquest, D. Afonso III de Leão took possession of the castle and ordered its reconstruction. The majestic Keep and other improvements to the defensive structure were completed during the reigns of D. Dinis and D. Afonso IV.

Only fragments of the wall and the imposing Keep remain of this ancient castle, testimonies of a glorious era that spans the centuries.
We have been lucky enough to be able to travel around our country, see lots of places but above all show our daughter all the wonderful things we have and learn the history of those who came here! May she get to know a lot about our country and then gain wings and get to know the rest of the world. The best thing we can give you in life are memories. And that's what we're trying to do!

I hope you enjoyed.
See you around.
Wishing you much peace and health

Those who pass by us do not go alone. They leave a bit of themselves, taking a piece of us."
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince.

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Text & Photography by @Onyfest

With love @onyfest