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    Guimarães

    Portugal

    Guimarães

    CityCulture

    Guimarães is considered the birthplace of Portugal: Here, in the 12th century, Afonso Henriques began his journey to become the country's first king. Therefore, the inscription 'Aqui nasceu Portugal' stands on the old city wall.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Portugal
    7. Norte (Northern Portugal)
    9. Guimarães
    Guimarães is considered the birthplace of Portugal: Here, in the 12th century, Afonso Henriques began his journey to become the country's first king. Therefore, the inscription 'Aqui nasceu Portugal' stands on the old city wall. Its well-preserved old town, with granite houses, wooden balconies, and small squares, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001. Above it lie the castle and the Ducal Palace.

    Sights in Guimarães

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Santuário da Penha

    1Santuário da Penha

    Sanctuary on Penha mountain southeast of the city, surrounded by forest, granite rocks, and picnic areas. From the top, you overlook Guimarães and its environs. You can go up by cable car, car, or on foot.
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    Here Portugal was born

    2Here Portugal was born

    The inscription 'Portugal was born here' adorns a tower of the old city wall at Toural. The city's most famous photo spot.
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    Church of Saint Francis

    3Church of Saint Francis

    Gothic abbey church on the edge of the old town, its choir and sacristy lined with 18th-century azulejos.
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    Castle of Guimarães
    Castle

    4Castle of Guimarães

    Medieval castle on the hill above the Old Town, its core dating back to the 10th century. You can walk the walls and climb the keep. Below stands the small Romanesque Church São Miguel do Castelo.
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    Palace of the Dukes of Bragança
    Museum

    5Palace of the Dukes of Bragança

    15th-century Ducal Palace with striking brick chimneys, extensively reconstructed in the 20th century. Inside, a museum displays tapestries, furniture, and porcelain.
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    Largo da Oliveira
    Church

    6Largo da Oliveira

    Main square of the old town, featuring the Church Nossa Senhora da Oliveira and a Gothic memorial arch in front. Opposite, the old town hall stands on arcades, with cafes and outdoor tables all around.
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    Dining & Drinks

    1

    a Cozinha por António Loureiro

    Restaurant in Largo do Serralho 4.
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    2

    Le Babachris

    Restaurant in Largo Condessa do Juncal 19.
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    3

    Magenta

    Restaurant in R. do Sardoal 134.
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    4

    Résvés

    Restaurant in R. de Santa Maria 39.
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    5

    Sala141

    Restaurant in Av. Dom Afonso Henriques 141.
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    Culture and History

    In the 10th century, Countess Mumadona Dias had a monastery and a castle built here, around which the city grew. In 1128, Afonso Henriques won the Battle of São Mamede near Guimarães against his mother's troops, thus laying the foundation for independent Portugal.In 2012, Guimarães was the European Capital of Culture. Dating from this year is the Plataforma das Artes e da Criatividade with exhibitions of contemporary art. A major city festival is the Festas Gualterianas in early August.

    On the Road in Guimarães

    The Old Town is mostly car-free and walkable in minutes. The center is a 15-minute walk from the station. The cable car to Penha starts at the Old Town's edge; check its times beforehand. To Braga, the fastest way is by bus.

    Accommodations in Guimarães

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    Campgrounds in Guimarães

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      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
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      • 1Santuário da Penha3 days
      • 2Here Portugal was born4 days
      • 3Church of Saint Francis5 days
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    Nearby

    Braga

    Braga

    Braga, one of Portugal's oldest, an archiepiscopal see since the Middle Ages. With the country's oldest cathedral and many churches and monasteries, Braga is dubbed "Portuguese Rome." Most famous: the Bom Jesus do Monte pilgrimage sanctuary, east of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2019. At the same time, Braga is a university city, full of young people and a vibrant center.
    Porto

    Porto

    Porto is Portugal's second-largest city, on the steep banks of the Douro shortly before its mouth. Porto's Old Town, its Ribeira district, the Ponte Dom Luís I, and Serra do Pilar Monastery are UNESCO World Heritage since 1996. Opposite in Vila Nova de Gaia, Port wine houses store their wine. Plan time for the hills: Many paths lead steeply uphill.
    Norte (Northern Portugal)

    Norte (Northern Portugal)

    Northern Portugal stretches from the Atlantic coast to the mountains along the Spanish border. Porto is its hub, alongside the ancient episcopal and royal cities of Braga and Guimarães, the coastal city of Viana do Castelo, and Peneda-Gerês National Park. It is greener, rainier and more rural than the South.
    Peneda-Gerês Nationalpark

    Peneda-Gerês Nationalpark

    The Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês was founded in 1971 and is Portugal's only national park. It is located in the far north on the border with Galicia and encompasses the Peneda, Soajo, Amarela, and Gerês mountain ranges. You'll find granite mountains, oak forests, reservoirs, waterfalls, and mountain villages with stone granaries. The park is home to wolves, semi-wild Garrano horses, and longhorn cattle.
    Peso da Régua

    Peso da Régua

    Peso da Régua is the largest city on the middle Douro and the gateway to the wine region. Since the 18th century, it has been a center of the Port wine trade; today, the Museu do Douro explains the history and landscape of the valley. The city itself is rather functional, but very practical as a starting point for boat trips, Quintas, and viewpoints.

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    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI