Linhares
Linhares is a village built on stone foundations with narrow winding streets and granite houses topped with tiled roofs and small windows. A 12th-century castle sits on a rock above the village, featuring thick stone walls, two towers, and views over the valley and the Mondego River flowing below.
The village started as a hilltop fort built by the Lusitanian tribe in ancient times, later controlled by Romans, Visigoths, and Muslims due to its strategic position. King Afonso Henriques granted Linhares its first official charter in 1169, and King Dinis rebuilt the castle in the 13th century on the site of an older Moorish fortress.
The name Linhares comes from the Portuguese word for flax, a crop that shaped the area for centuries and remains part of the local identity. Walking through the village today, you notice how this agricultural heritage still influences the simple, grounded way residents move through their daily lives.
The village is easiest to reach by car or motorcycle, though train service to nearby Celorico da Beira with a taxi ride is also an option. Marked walking trails lead into the surrounding mountains and are simple to follow, making them perfect for a day out or a casual walk in nature.
In 1189, the village helped defend nearby Celorico against armies from León and Castile, an event so significant it was immortalized on the coat of arms with a crescent moon and five stars. This focus on military defense shaped the village's layout and structure in ways still visible today.
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