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Óbidos It is also the name of a small walled town from the Middle Ages, and also the name of the district where it sits. The town itself is a constant point of attraction for tourists from all over the world, including Israelis who discovered it very recently, whether those who come to it as part of a day trip From Lisbon, the capital, and whether those who choose to sleep within its dry walls. It is located about an hour and a quarter drive from Lisbon, so for many it is a perfect destination for a full day trip, perhaps in combination with a few other villages in the area such as Nazare, Fatima and more.
A trip to Óbidos is not just a day trip. This is a town that was given as a gift to Queen Uracca of Lyon by King Afonso II, back in the thirteenth century. The whole town is built with a strict design, and the Portuguese atmosphere you will feel is likely not to be found anywhere else. In Óbidos you will find plenty of museums, galleries, historical sites and fascinating monuments that tell its long story. A walk on the city wall is an extraordinary experience, and the view of the vineyards and cherry orchards that surround it will redefine for you the concept of a rural landscape.
As mentioned, Obidos was already built in the Middle Ages. The rich variety of buildings, sites and special designs in it accompany it and its story, and maybe even the story of Portugal itself in a small Enfin. The city itself is a kind of open-air museum, so even a tour of its alleys, restaurants and galleries will give you the feeling as if you were thrown back in time and went on a journey of several hours, a journey that includes quite a few surprises.
The nature surrounding Óbidos is rich and diverse, and you can enjoy some aspects of it while visiting the city. The plantations and vineyards that surround it supply both it and the rest of the country with various agricultural products, and from them the local cherry liquor, the Ginja, is also produced. In addition, the proximity of the city to the sea (although it does not have its own direct beach), also provides pleasure from the waves and scenery of the warm Atlantic Ocean.
As soon as you entered the main gate of the city, the Porta da Vila, you actually entered the old city as well. Almost all the houses you will see here are original and centuries old, and the streets paved with different stones will help you imagine the city as it used to be. Walking along Rua Direita you will see plenty of narrow alleys winding between the houses and staircases that disappear from sight. These alleys are available to you at all hours of the day, but become quieter towards the evening, as the day trippers leave the city.
Besides the alleys, you can also walk on top of and along the city walls. Their total length is about 1.5 kilometers, and at some points they rise up to a dizzying height of thirteen meters (about the height of a 5-4 story building). Their foundations were built by the Moors, but they were restored in the eighteenth century after the devastating earthquake of 1755. On the walls you can walk from Porta da Villa, to the castle of Óbidos. Note that the walls are not that well maintained, and there are no railings. Consider carefully whether you want to climb them with children or unstable or elderly people.
The huge castle located north of Óbidos was built by the Moors as early as the eighth century AD. They were also the ones who laid the foundations of the city's walls. Their choice to build the castle here will illustrate the strategic importance of the town and clarify why the King of Portugal chose to build a city here. The castle was converted from a military structure to a residential structure in the thirteenth century, and recently converted again to a heritage hotel, a popular concept in Portugal. However, even if you are not a hotel guest, you can enter the castle and watch the city from the walls and towers that once helped protect it. It's an experience you won't want to miss.
In front of the church of Santa Maria which was built back in the Middle Ages (although not much of the original structure remains, due to repeated earthquakes), by King Alfonso in the 13th century, there is a square. The square is of great historical importance in Óbidos, as it includes the fifteenth-century penal column that still stands today, a sixteenth-century fountain that used to be fed by the municipal aqueduct, and the Telheiro building, identified by its columns, which hosted the covered market until the twentieth century of Ovidosh. This square summarizes much of the city's history in one place and is a destination you don't want to miss.
Óbidos was a royal city, and as such it was a center of attraction for artists, creators, businessmen and merchants from many places in Portugal and abroad. The museum includes exhibits from many centuries, which tell the story of this special city. Here you will find paintings from different periods, from the Baroque to the Romantic period, weapons from the Peninsular War of Napoleonic France in Spain and Portugal and even findings from the archaeological excavations of the ancient Roman city of Eurobrittium, which was located there.
The Queen's Hot Springs, as this area is called in Portuguese, is a tiny town attached to Óbidos and is five minutes away by train. The town was built around the local hot springs, which were (and still are) attributed various medicinal properties. The beautiful park from the nineteenth century built next to the spa is the first thing a visitor will discover there, but you will also find countless galleries, workshops and even some impressive art museums.
In the 16th century, Queen Catherine of Austria ordered the construction of this aqueduct, which carries water for about six kilometers to Óbidos. The beginning of the forearm is in Usseria, but about half of it is below the surface. The most impressive part of the rampart that has survived intact to this day is just outside the southern entrance to Obidos. The aqueduct led the water that reached the fountain of Santa Maria Square, mentioned above.
It is a bay about four kilometers long, which brings water from the ocean and creates a kind of lake connected to the ocean through a small strait. Getting to the lagoon is via a short drive west from Óbidos itself, and here you are at the lagoon full of clear and beautiful water. The main attractions for tourists are on the ocean beaches themselves, in the south and north. In the north there is an impressive resort, while the south includes some fishermen's cottages and some holiday villas. The waves of the Atlantic Ocean crashing onto the shore are an impressive sight all year round.
The festivals in Óbidos are well-known and famous in Portugal and abroad, and include, among others, the chocolate festival and the medieval market. On the days of the festivals, the city wears a holiday, and traditional preparation methods of the Ginja drink and other products are revealed to the visitors of the city and make the festival a center of attraction for many.
This festival takes place every year from mid-July to mid-August (spread over three weekends), and comes to recreate the ancient atmosphere of the city. The stalls extend along the western side of the old castle, which definitely adds to the atmosphere and gives the festival an authentic medieval flavor. Among the various stalls you will find multitudes of Portuguese artisans offering their works for sale. Here you can find paintings, preparations, embroideries, pottery and even traditional weapons. All these will be offered to you by the stall owners dressed according to the best Portuguese tradition. Apart from that, another facet of the festival are the food stalls, the traditional drinks and of course the central dinner that imitates that of the Middle Ages.
Among all the different stands you will also find actors and characters that will put you in the atmosphere. These include (dummy) beggars, nobles, jugglers and courtiers. There is no doubt that a visit to the Óbidos Medieval Market Festival is one of the best ways to experience even a little bit of this period, so foreign to modern times.
For about three weeks every year, starting from mid-March to the beginning of April, Óbidos hosts an international chocolate festival that is held under a different theme each year. For example, in 2017 the theme of the festival was music, so the Parca da Tablete was full of chocolate sculptures of famous artists and musicians, such as Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan and more.
On top of that, the Chocolate Festival is another opportunity for Óbidos artisans to demonstrate their skills and present their wares, so you can find quite a few stalls here that will offer you to buy a variety of works of art of various types.
Starting in 2015, Óbidos rebranded itself as a city of literature. The city, already recognized as a national site of Portugal, was recognized by UNESCO as a "City of Literature". This literature festival attracted the attention of important figures in the world of literature, such as the winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize for Literature, V.S. Naipaul The festival is held every year around September or October, and lasts about a month.
Most travelers to Óbidos prefer to spend part of the day also in the towns near Óbidos, which complete the experience and provide another view of this rich region. Many regard a day trip that includes Óbidos and the nearby towns as an authentic taste of Portugal's long history.
This coastal town is very close to Óbidos, but is a tourist attraction in its own right. In recent years, Nazara has branded itself as the ultimate surfing destination, as the waves of the Atlantic ocean hitting the canopy allow surfers to enjoy them in the best possible way. In Nazare you can find much of what is in other Portuguese towns and villages, such as impressive centuries-old buildings and an authentic and special atmosphere, but it has activities that are unique only to it.
The view from the cliff that separates the coastal part from the town center is breathtaking. The fishing techniques you can experience here will complete your experience of the country that lives on the shores of the ocean, and the beautiful beaches of Nazaré will make you forget the hustle and bustle of Lisbon, the capital, from which you arrived this morning or to which you will probably return this evening.
Fatima is a destination for Christian pilgrims from all over the world, and one of the most important of them. According to Christian tradition, Mary appeared here to three young shepherds at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, and as in every site where an apparition was reported, an impressive church was built here and a town surrounding it. Although most tourists here are devout Catholics, even non-Christians can admire the impressive city and its character.
Although most of the points of interest here are related to Christianity and churches, there are several places that are worth visiting even without that. One example is the mesmerizing caves, Grutas da Moeda. They were discovered by local hunters in 1971, who found these ten chambers shaped by water flowing through them regularly. Near Fatima (about a quarter of an hour's drive) you will find the village Ourem, dominated from above by a very impressive castle. Here you will need to wear suitable hiking shoes, as you will have to walk quite a bit here, but the effort will pay off in the form of the views you can see once you reach the top.
Not far from Óbidos you will find this town, which often has monuments and points of interest. This is an important point for the Portuguese people, since a little south of here the famous battle of Aljubarrota took place in 1385. In memory of the battle, the Convent of Santa Maria de la Victory, a huge Gothic monastery located in Batlaha, was built. At the Batalha de Aljubarrota Centro de Interpretacao you can experience and understand this important battle, through an impressive display that explains the background in eight languages.
Type of attraction
castle
price level
Free
about the attraction
A magnificent historical castle from the 8th century that was destroyed, rebuilt and converted into a charming hotel.
Type of attraction
square
price level
Free
about the attraction
An ancient square located in front of the Church of Santa Maria and considered one of the most important historical sites in Óbidos.
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