Bom Dia from Portugal’s fortress town – Valença do Minho, or just Valenca in short. This unique town’s history goes back to Roman times. Over the years Valenca do Minho played an important military role in defending the Portuguese northern border. Nowadays, only friendly invaders, mostly from neighboring towns and Galicia in Spain, peacefully invade this fortress town to buy some good local Portuguese products. However, we won’t take you shopping… we’ll show you the best things to do in Valença do Minho, Portugal. Vamos!
Travel tip. You can easily combine a trip to Valenca do Minho with a visit to Vila Nova De Cerveira (12km away) and/or Caminha (30km away).
This website uses affiliate links thanks to which we may earn a commission for purchases you made at no additional cost to you. If you like the content, consider using those links to support us. Thank you!
Valenca do Minho, Portugal FAQ
Valenca do Minho is located in Northern Portugal in the Alto Minho region and Viana do Castelo District. It lies on the left bank of the Minho River, which is the only thing that separates Portugal from Spain. Valenca is also close to Peneda-Geres, Portugal’s only National Park.
Valenca is a unique town in Portugal definitely worth visiting, even if only for a short while. After all, in how many places in Portugal can you see still functioning towns within 5km of well-kept defensive walls? We don’t know but it’s definitely not a common sight! What’s more, Valenca fortress offers great views over the Minho River and the neighboring Spanish town of Tui.
About Valenca Fortress
Valenca do Minho Fortress (pt. Fortaleza de Valença do Minho) is without a doubt the most recognizable highlight of the town and one of the most popular tourist attractions in North Portugal. Its history starts in the 13th century when the first fortifications and strongholds were built on the privileged hilltop position overlooking the Minho River and Spain.
In order to provide even better protection of Portugal from invasions, during the 17th century the fortress we see today came to life. Over the years Valenca fortress walls were destroyed several times, but always restored thanks to which now we see it in very good shape.
Valenca Fortress sits on two small hills separated by a ditch and connected by a bridge. The main entrance is called Porta do Sol (eng. Sun Doors). Before you enter the fortress be sure to wander outside the walls in order to admire these impressive fortifications from the outside and discover why it was so successful at resisting attacks. There you’ll also get fantastic views over the Minho River and the Spanish coast.
Now that you’ve seen Valenca do Minho Fortress from the outside, it’s time to go through the gates and discover what’s inside… Vamos!
Discover: Accommodation options in Valenca do Minho
Things to do inside Valenca do Minho Fortress
Inside the Valenca fortress, among its narrow stone-paved streets, you’ll find many beautiful old buildings, some churches like Igreja de Santo Estevão or Igreja de Santa Maria dos Anjos, historical landmarks, and of course many restaurants, cafes, and small shops selling various products like souvenirs, Portuguese wines, towels, or clothes.
Unfortunately, you’ll also find plenty of cars there, which is quite a shame in our opinion. Nevertheless, it’s worth a visit so let’s take a closer look at some of the most important Valenca do Minho points of interest.
Roman Milestone
Valenca history goes back up to Roman times, and Roman Milestone is proof of it. It dates back to the 1st century when Emperor Claudius ordered its construction. It marks the distance of 62km of the old road leading from Braga to Astorga in Spain. Currently, you can find the Roman Milestone in front of the Igreja de Santo Estevão, it’s quite easy to miss so have your eyes wide open.
Book now: Day Trip to Valença and Santiago de Compostela
Valenca do Minho Churches
As befits every Portuguese town, you’ll also find several churches and chapels in Valença. Here are the most important and interesting ones:
- Igreja de Santo Estevão (eng. Saint Stephen’s Church) was built in the 13th century and later rebuilt in Neoclassical style at the end of the 18th century. Inside you can take a look at 16th-century panels showing scenes of St. Stephen’s life and a 16th-century portrait of the Virgin Mary. You’ll find a Roman Milestone in front of this church.
- Igreja de Santa Maria dos Anjos (eng. Church Of Saint Mary Of The Angels) was built in the 13th century in Romanesque style and currently serves as Valenca’s main church. A tiny chapel, also dating back to the 13th century, is attached to its back. Just to the left of the church is the Capela da Misericórdia (eng. Chapel of Mercy).
- Capela Militar do Bom Jesus (eng. Military Chapel of Bom Jesus) is a small 17th-century chapel built in Baroque and Rococo styles, with a single nave. In front of it, you’ll find a 20th-century Statue of São Teotónio, the first Portuguese saint who was born in 1082 near Valença, in Ganfei.
Valenca Museums
If you’re into visiting museums, Valenca has two to offer:
- Núcleo Museológico de Valença (eng. Municipal Museum Centre of Valença) where thanks to various exhibits, photos, weapons, models, or documents you’ll be able to relive the most significant times of the history of the town. The entrance is free.
- Museu do Bombeiro Manuel Valdés Sobral (eng. Fireman’s Museum) is a small museum completely dedicated to firefighters. Inside for example, you’ll find a great collection of fire helmets and lots of miniature cars. The place is great for visiting with children. The entrance is free.
Valença-Tui International Bridge
Just a few steps from the fortress you’ll find Valença-Tui International Bridge (pt. Ponte Internacional Valença-Tui) that connects Portugal with Spain. This 318m long bridge, inspired by Eifell’s works, was built between 1882-1884 and opened in 1885. The bridge is still in use by trains, cars, and pedestrians. Due to the fact that a new bridge from 1993 is nearby, it’s often called the “Old International Bridge”.
Fun fact. Pilgrims walking Camino Portugues, one of the spiritual routes leading to the famous Santiago de Compostela in Spain, have been crossing the bridge since 1884.
Book now: Santiago de Compostela and Valença do Minho Full-Day Tour
How to get to Valenca do Minho, Portugal?
Valenca do Minho is located about 25km from Caminha, 65km from Viana Do Castelo, 50km from Ponte Da Barca, and 75km from Braga. The most convenient way to get to Valenca is by car or by bus.
Where to park in Valenca do Minho?
Remember to leave your car outside Valenca fortress. To do that you can choose one of a few parking lots. We left our car in the free Parking Fortaleza de Valença, located just a few steps from the entrance to the fortress.
Airports near Valenca do Minho
The closest airport to Valenca is located in Porto (115km away). Other ones are located in Spain, in Vigo (30km away) and Santiago de Compostela (130km away). From each airport, you can get to Valenca do Minho by bus. To check the connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
For great car rental deals visit Rentalcars website.
To Valenca do Minho by bus
You can quite easily get to Valenca by bus. For example, the trip from Porto will take about 2h (€7-19), 1h from Viana do Castelo (€4-10), and 1h from Ponte de Lima (€6-12). To learn more about bus connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com website.
To Valenca do Minho by train
From some places, you can also reach Valenca do Minho by train. There are connections available from cities like Lisbon, Porto, Viana do Castelo or Caminha. Here is a map of Portugal train connections where you can check routes that might interest you.
For great train ticket deals visit Trainline website.
Camping Valenca do Minho
If you’re traveling by camper, places like Parque de Caravanas or Camping Orbitur might interest you. They are located close to Valenca.
Things To Do In Valenca do Minho, Portugal – Summing up
We hope that you enjoyed this blog post about Valenca do Minho, a unique Portuguese fortress town, and that we encouraged you to go and see it with your own eyes. For many, it’s still not a well-known North Portugal destination but it has its own charm, beautiful surroundings, and huge defensive walls worth seeing. Enjoy your time in Valenca!
Our opinion about Valenca do Minho
For us, a visit to Valenca was a day trip from nearby Ponte da Barca where we lived for a few weeks. We connected this trip with a visit to two nearby towns – Vila Nova de Cerveira and Caminha. It was quite a long day, but thanks to the fact that each place is fairly small we managed to see all we wanted without rushing. We visited Valenca in mid-April, in the late afternoon hours, and we found it surprisingly busy.
We think that Valenca do Minho is a unique, charming, and pleasant town and we enjoyed our time there. We especially liked admiring it from the outside walls – we found the fortress more impressive from this perspective! The inner parts of the town were also interesting, full of old and beautiful buildings. But we couldn’t fully enjoy it because of the crowds – it was our last stop of the day and we were looking for a moment of peace rather than pushing through the streets full of loud people.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Valenca do Minho?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Valenca do Minho:
Where to sleep in Valenca do Minho?
Pousada de Valença
Pousada de Valença is a charming hotel located in the historic center of Valenca do Minho, offering comfortable rooms, a cozy lounge, and a beautiful courtyard with stunning views of the city's fortress and the River Minho. With its rich history and traditional architecture, this pousada provides a unique and unforgettable experience for visitors exploring the beautiful region of Alto Minho.
Quinta do Caminho
Quinta do Caminho is a rustic guesthouse situated in the countryside of Valenca do Minho, Portugal, offering comfortable rooms, a large garden with an outdoor pool, and a restaurant serving homemade traditional dishes made with local ingredients. With its peaceful location and warm hospitality, this guesthouse provides a perfect retreat for travelers looking to relax and unwind amidst the beautiful nature of Minho.
Residencial Portas do Sol
Residencial Portas do Sol is a charming guesthouse located in the heart of Valenca do Minho, Portugal, offering comfortable rooms with balconies overlooking the town's historic center, a cozy lounge, and a bar serving refreshing drinks and snacks. With its excellent location and stunning views, this guesthouse provides a delightful and convenient option for travelers looking to experience the beauty and charm of Valenca do Minho.
Accommodations photos source: booking.com
