The best MTB trails around Nave

Sabugal Castle is one of the most imposing and well-preserved medieval fortifications in Portugal. It is known as the "Castle of the Five Corners" due to the unusual shape of its impressive pentagonal keep, the castle's most iconic feature. Its pentagonal (five-cornered) plan is considered unique in Portuguese military architecture. It is approximately 30 meters high and offers incredible views. The castle has a double ring of walls. You can walk along the ramparts on top of the walls for a panoramic view over the city and the Côa River. From the top, you can see the Côa River winding its way through the city and the natural landscape of the Serra da Malcata mountain range.

Sabugal, a town that deserves a visit to its castle and the entire surrounding area, especially the magnificent river beach on the Côa River.

Alfaiates holds centuries of history intertwined with the very formation of Portugal. Its castle, once called Castillo de la Luna (Moon Castle) because it seemed to touch the sky, was built in the 13th century and passed to Portuguese territory by the Treaty of Alcañices in 1297. Between charters, royal alliances, and battles, it was the scene of moments of glory and strategic defense, even withstanding the French invasions. Today, amid crumbling walls and living traditions like the capeia arraiana (a bullfight in which the bull is faced by 20 or 30 men who hold off its charges with a huge pitchfork), Alfaiates continues to reveal the charm of its legendary memory.

Opened in 2017, this river beach transformed the old dam, previously used for irrigation and fishing, into a leisure haven. The dam is fed by the Ribeira de Alfaiates, which flows until it flows into the Côa River. Surrounded by verdant slopes and trees that paint the landscape with vibrant colors, the beach features a lawn, sand, a bar with a terrace, and a picnic area. And for those seeking more activity: a soccer field, a playground, canoes, pedal boats, and even an area dedicated to group games. A nearby motorhome park completes the offerings.

Soito, also called Souto, is now a village, a title it acquired in 1999. The name comes from the chestnut trees that once graced the local landscape. As early as 1527, according to the Royal Register, this was the most important center of the municipality, with 160 residents.

In the heart of the municipality of Sabugal, stands the small village of Torre. Today, few people live here, mostly people who keep the tradition of agriculture and livestock alive. In August, however, the village takes on a new life: the grand festivities in honor of Our Lady of Fátima fill the streets with color, faith, and celebration.

Among the secret corners of Portugal, the Côa River is a discreet treasure. It rises in Fóios and flows through valleys and hills until it joins the Douro River in Vila Nova de Foz Côa. Even here, where it flows gently and seems like just a trickle, the valley reveals all its magic. It's the ideal place to rest for a moment, cool your feet, and let yourself be enveloped by the river's serenity before resuming your journey.

Built on the Côa River, Sabugal Castle preserves centuries of borders and memory. Once part of the Kingdom of León, it passed to Portugal in 1297 and became a strategic staging ground for the Portuguese-British troops during the Third French Invasion. Today, it continues to stand as a living testament to the long history of one of Europe's oldest nations.