Braga, Portugal · Europe
Braga is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Palmeira, 32km from Peneda-Geres National Park.
Braga is a city located in Braga, Portugal. With a population of 193,324, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Braga sits in Portugal, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Lisbon time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Braga to your route.
Castle of Braga (Portuguese: Castelo de Braga) is a historical fortification and defensive line encircling the city of Braga. While, in fact, the only remains of this structure are the various gates and towers along its perimeter, the main keep tower, located in the civil parish of São João do Souto, is the only trueRead more
remnant of the medieval castle.
The old castle, today demolished, had an approximate rectangular plan, with towers on each vertex. Of the walls of the city, only the gate, tower of Santiago, tower of São Sebastião and Porta Nova remain (the latter being completely remodeled in a Rococo style and completely different stylistically).
Its perimeter barely exceeded 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), and was delimited (today) in the east by the Praça da República, west by the Rua do Castelo (keep and castle), Rua de São Marcos, Rua do Anjo, Largo de Santiago, Rua do Alcaide, Largo de Paulo Orósio, Rua de Jerónimo Pimentel, Campo das Carvalheiras, Avenida de São Miguel o Anjo, Largo da Porta Nova, Rua dos Biscainhos, Praça do Conselheiro Torres e Almeida and Rua dos Capelistas (walls).
The demolition of the grounds began in 1858 in the Largo do Barão de S. Martinho, with the destruction of the Souto Gate, followed by the Eastern and São Bento Gates, still in the 19th century. After the beginning of the 20th century, many other lines of the castle were destroyed between the Arco da Porta Nova and Rua dos Biscainhos, and from Rua dos Biscainhos and Rua do Alcaide (whose houses abutted the wall, between Campo da Vinha and Praça do Município and Rua de São Marcos). Few remnants of the medieval lines remain today. The ancient wall can be seen in some of the backyards of homes along the Rua do Anjo and Rua de São Marcos. Still, further, there still exists the Gate of São Tiago, even if partially altered due to the construction in the second half of the 18th century, through the addition of the Capela da Senhora da Torre. Along Rua de São Marcos, in 1985, one property owner constructed over the foundations of one part of the wall, while in March 1990, there was a collapse of one part of the ancient wall, during the demolition of the old Facho garment factory.
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Braga offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Braga is located in Braga, Portugal, Europe. The coordinates are 41.5514 latitude, -8.4231 longitude.
Braga has a population of approximately 193,324 people, making it a city in Portugal.
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8 notable places within an hour's drive.
cathedral
Braga's UNESCO pilgrimage church crowning a 116-metre baroque zigzag stairway devoted to the five senses: climb it or ride the 1882 water-balance funicular, the oldest of its kind still running in the world.
4 km · about 5 min drive
castle
A 10th-century castle associated with the founding of Portugal, beside the Paço dos Duques in UNESCO-listed Guimarães.
16 km · about 30 min drive
national park
Portugal's only national park, a wild landscape of granite peaks, oak forests, waterfalls, and ancient Roman roads in the north.
32 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Two dozen granite espigueiros, slit-walled corn granaries raised on staddle stones, some dating to the 18th century: clustered on a bare rock threshing floor above the village of Soajo in the Peneda-Gerês hills.
38 km · about 45 min drive
cafe
Porto's Belle Époque showpiece on Rua de Santa Catarina, open since 1921: carved wood, leather benches, chandeliers and mirrored walls attended by white-jacketed waiters. Regularly listed among the most beautiful cafés in the world.
47 km · about 55 min drive
famous road
A genuine city street circuit in Porto that ran Formula One in 1958 and 1960 and was revived for historic racing. Off-race weekends you simply drive or walk the seafront and boulevard sections as ordinary city streets.
47 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
A breathtakingly ornate neo-Gothic bookshop in Porto with a famous crimson staircase, often called the world's most beautiful bookstore.
48 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
A striking double-deck iron bridge designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel, spanning the Douro gorge between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.
48 km · about 55 min drive
April to October
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