Bragança

In this land, full of mountains and plains, natural diversity, flavours, tangible and intangible heritage, culture, science and innovation all enjoy their share of stardom. But the spotlight turns to its warm-hearted people, who give life and soul to the ‘Princess of Trás-os-Montes’. Bragança is no longer nine hours away from Lisbon, neither in physical terms, seeing as the motorway network and the Regional Airport and being close to the Spanish High Speed ​​Train Network have shortened distances, nor when it comes to progress, given that the municipality has a cultural and scientific wealth that rivals major cities. Despite being behind the hills and their morphology, at times rugged, implying isolation and calm, Bragança is very close and has long awakened from its deep slumber. Nevertheless, time passes slowly, oblivious to frenetic rhythms, because the charms of Bragança are discovered slowly.

Montesinho
Typical of Trás-os-Montes

Located in the Montesinho Nature Park, Montesinho is one of the most beautiful Trás-os-Montes villages within the municipality of Bragança. The granite houses topped with slate roofs and boasting wooden balconies adorned with flowers are perhaps the hallmark of this settlement of narrow streets. The Montesinho Walk – a ten-kilometre trail that also passes through the villages of França and Portelo – is one of the activities on offer, which can be rounded off with a lunch of Montesinho goat, or perhaps a few treats from the smokehouse, before winding up with ovos doces, honey cake, rosquilas or súplicas, washed down with red wine, or firewater, for the brave among you. If you go for a longer break, ‘Rural Tourism’ houses, such as Lagosta Perdida or Casa da Edra, besides offering a comfortable and well-deserved bed, allow you to enjoy a traditional meal. As keepsakes you take landscapes of granite, deep valleys, impeccably restored houses, rivers and streams that, in summer, soften the dryness of fields and visitors. Take home a little jar of honey from Montesinho, which will symbolise the sweetness of its people.

Rio de Onor
Shale, a river and the mountains

Rio de Onor is a parish at the border with Spain, located in the Montesinho Nature Park. In addition to a regime of self-government, this unique village adopts, or adopted, a dialect of its own. In former times, Portuguese Rio de Onor and Spain’s Rihonor de Castilla were a single settlement, but in the 19th century the village became part of the two countries. The populations on both sides live mainly from agriculture and pastoralism, where the original community system still remains in some aspects of everyday life, although the primitive egalitarian communitarianism has not resisted the ruthless test of time. With vanity and pride the locals stick to their traditions and use their very own dialect, Rionorês. The houses, clad in shale and separated by a river, are framed by the green of the land. In addition to the holiday cottages, there is a campsite, and in the summer the river beach beckons, to rest for a while next to the clear waters of the river. You must take a look at the Roman Bridge, the Igreja Matriz Church, the oven, the forge and the community mills, and taste the village’s delicious smoked sausages.

Fervença Green Corridor and Cycle paths
Nature and sustainability

The Fervença Green Corridor is a key criterion in how the city is lived, marked by the presence of the river and the outlook opening up on Monte São Bartolomeu. In addition to being used by the city’s population and visitors, it has also been used for holding fairs, exhibitions and sports activities. The river, vegetation, birds and other fauna are complemented by an esplanade, a playground, a fitness park for the elderly, the premises of the Casa do Mel, an old renovated watermill, as well as some equipment that is both decorative and recreational. For the Municipality of Bragança the conservation and management of the natural and scenic heritage are fundamental factors in its sustainable development strategy. In this sense, in addition to the many walking trails, the municipality has cycle paths (a total of 22 km, with others under development) and a mountain bike trail, with a total length of 255 km. The adoption of more environmentally friendly and healthier practices for all is part of the Bragança Sustainable Mobility Plan, which aims to promote sustainable urban mobility by encouraging the use of ecological modes of transport.

Brigantia Ecopark
Innovation and Science

Brigantia-EcoPark is an institution that is part of the Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro Science and Technology Park. Its main aim, is to carry out Research and Development activities, more specifically and mainly in the fields of environment, energy and eco-products. The central building of Brigantia-EcoPark serves several functions, and has a range of energy sustainability features. Its main purpose is the development of Research and Innovation activities, and increasing the competitiveness of the region.

There’s so much more to say, but to really get to know Bragança, the ninth oldest city in Portugal, you need to go there, to see and feel the colours, the aromas, the flavours, the heritage, the culture, the age-old traditions, lovingly kept alive. You need to feel its indescribable mystique, which can only be truly felt when all the senses are filled with the soul of Bragança. The senses... and the heart, because above all else Bragança is love, enrapturing at first glance.