Nestled on a hill overlooking the cliffs of the Serra da Gardunha, the village of Castelo Novo is linked to the early history of the nation. It was in 1208, during the reign of Sancho I, that Pedro Guterres donated the land—of which he was a grantee—in his will to the Knights Templar, and it is believed that at this time the castle was already under construction. Decades later, King Dinis ordered its structure to be renovated, and it was this campaign of works that gave the Castelo Novo fortress the Gothic characteristics it still displays today.
Like many other villages along the Beira border, Castelo Novo grew in the shadow of and around its walls, with narrow streets winding up the hillside to the keep. In the center stands the Town Hall, with its arcades beneath the terrace of the main floor. In the center, integrated into the town hall's façade, stands the monumental and imposing King João V fountain, commissioned by King Magnanimous. Opposite, the Manueline pillory marks the center of the square, and further on, the main church dedicated to Our Lady of Grace rises, its white walls contrasting with the Baroque forms of the granite windows and portals.
Throughout the village, as you wander the winding streets, you can discover architectural details, small traces that tell the story of its inhabitants.
In Castelo Novo, be sure to visit:
The castle;
The Bica and King João V fountains;
The main church and the Misericórdia church;
The manor houses;
The old gallows.
The Castelo Novo Museum Center
Alardo Park