Sortelha

Culture and History from the medieval period

Sortelha

The town has walls to climb, views that stretch as far as the Serra da Estrela, centuries-old gates, two stones that “kiss” each other and crafts made from a typical herb.

Walking through the streets of the village on a stroll through the beautiful Sortelha is like taking a trip back in time.

The Sortelha Castle has been a National Monument since 1910, and this border town has always been the subject of disputes.

Its foundations date back to the medieval period and the town was reborn (between the 13th and 14th centuries) due to the defensive needs in this part of the territory.

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Most of the population ended up leaving and looking for more fertile land in the surrounding area, which meant that the interior of the wall has not been altered much in recent centuries.
And that is part of Sortelha’s charm. Visitors to Sortelha will also find the Passos da Via Sacra, dating from 1742, with decorative motifs of Baroque influence.
The Sortelha Pillory was built in 1510 by King Manuel and is located in front of the Castle gate.
In Sortelha, the Porta da Vila is considered the city’s gateway, because it is also where cars pass through.
There are some ancient inscriptions on the exterior stones.
As for gastronomy, tourists visiting Sortelha can try traditional Portuguese dishes.
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