Castelo Branco, Historical municipality in Central Portugal.
Castelo Branco is a municipality in central Portugal located about 200 kilometers northeast of Lisbon on a hill within the Beira Baixa subregion. The white castle walls rise above the surrounding plains and mountains.
The Knights Templar built the defensive walls and castle between 1214 and 1230, establishing the foundation for the present urban layout. This military installation was meant to protect the eastern borders of the Portuguese kingdom.
The Episcopal Palace Gardens display stone sculptures representing kings, zodiac signs and the four seasons as an example of Portuguese Baroque garden design. Visitors walk among these figures and observe the symmetry of the flowerbeds and water basins.
The municipality connects to Lisbon through direct train services from Santa Apolónia station, with the journey taking around three hours. Visitors exploring the gardens and old town should wear comfortable shoes for uphill walks.
The municipality covers an area that makes it the third largest in Portugal by land extent, with 19 civil parishes spread across a wide territory. This expanse includes both urban quarters and rural areas with pastures and forests.
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