Penamacor, once one of the most imposing border fortresses, still bears traces of its military importance. The medieval castle, classified as a National Monument, stands as a testament to the ancient defensive line of Beira.
Amidst narrow streets and walls, memories of the Jewish quarter, a refuge for Jews expelled from Spain in 1492, also emerge. In this context, Penamacor is above all the birthplace of António Ribeiro Sanches, a physician, philosopher, and medical reformer who served Catherine of Russia.