Chaves, Administrative municipality in Vila Real, Portugal
Chaves is a municipality near the Spanish border in mountainous terrain crossed by the Tâmega River. The area spreads across several smaller towns and villages that together form a mostly rural landscape.
The place began as a Roman military settlement built around natural thermal springs, which gave it strategic importance. Over the centuries it remained a key crossroads in the region and developed the layout you see today.
The town carries on local traditions through its everyday food culture and craft practices, visible in regional wine celebrations and the making of smoked meats. You can experience these living traditions when you walk through markets and local shops.
You can reach the town by highway or regular buses from neighboring areas, with good connections to larger cities. Taking time to visit the different parts of the municipality helps you understand its character better.
The town has thermal springs that have been known since ancient times and originally attracted the first settlement here. Some of these springs remain active and accessible today, linking the present to the site's origins.
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