Palácio da Brejoeira

The Minho


On the N101, 5km south of Monção, this grand early 19th-century neoclassical palace has been open to the public since 2010. Visits are by guided tour only. Most interesting is the 45-minute palace tour, which runs every 30 minutes, taking in the opulent interiors, such as the Empire-furniture-filled king's room and the dining room where Franco and Salazar had a meeting in 1950, as well as the family's historic wine cellar, private chapel and gardens with 20 species of camellia.

Alternatively, opt for the hour-long tour of the grounds (offered at 11am and 4pm daily), which includes a forest, a plane-tree avenue, a romantic lake and a glimpse of the palace's vineyards – in total, the estate has 18 hectares planted with Alvarinho.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Minho attractions

1. Museu Alvarinho

2.64 MILES

This spiffy new museum in a beautiful old stone building on Monção's main square chronicles the history and production of Alvarinho wine through photos…

2. Old Monção

2.65 MILES

The best part of Monção’s old town is the utter lack of tourism. It’s almost exclusively a local scene in chestnut-shaded Praça Deu-la-Deu, where a hand…

3. Fortaleza de Valença

7.7 MILES

Valença's fortaleza is in fact two fortresses, bristling with bastions, watchtowers, massive gateways and defensive bulwarks, connected by a single bridge…

4. Catedral de Santa Maria

7.73 MILES

The highlight of the old town is the fortress-like Catedral de Santa Maria. Begun in the 12th century, it reflects a stoic Romanesque style in most of its…

5. Igreja de Santo Estevão

7.75 MILES

This 14th-century edifice inside the fortaleza, with its neoclassical facade, is one of Valença's best preserved churches.

6. Casa da Eira

7.76 MILES

Opposite the post office, the Casa da Eira has a handsome Manueline window somewhat marred by a horrendous corrugated tin room that peeks above the…

7. Roman Milestone

7.77 MILES

This 1st-century Roman milestone inside the fortaleza is a remnant from the old Braga–Astorga road.

8. Igreja de Santa Maria dos Anjos

7.79 MILES

Dating from 1276, this now-decrepit Romanesque parish church inside the fortaleza has a tiny chapel at the back with Romano-Gothic inscriptions on the…