The best cycling routes around Babe

The modern Sé Nova (Cathedral of Our Lady Queen) was inaugurated in 2001. It is located on Avenida Eng. Amaro da Costa, slightly outside the old town center (but only 1 km from the Sé Velha). It is the first cathedral built in Portugal in the 21st century. It has a contemporary and bold architecture (designed by the architect Vassalo Rosa), with a polygonal shape and a very spacious and bright interior. Behind the altar, there is a huge ceramic panel by the artist Mário Silva that is worth admiring.

Rio de Onor is not just a beautiful village; it's a "living museum" of a way of life that has almost disappeared in Europe. It's worth visiting because it is possibly the village with the most fascinating social history in Portugal. Here are the 4 main reasons to go there: 1. It's a Community Village ("Communitarianism") This is Rio de Onor's great trademark. For centuries, the village lived under a system of total sharing among neighbors, something very rare: Sharing of Goods: The bread oven, the watermill, and even the village bull belonged to everyone. The "Rod of Justice": Decisions and fines for infractions in the village were marked on a wooden rod, managed by the "judge" elected by the people. You can see this history explained at the Casa do Touro (House of the Bull), a small, unmissable museum in the village. 2. One Village, Two Countries Rio de Onor is a village bisected by the international border. On this side is Rio de Onor (Portugal); on the other side is Rihonor de Castilla (Spain). For the inhabitants, the border never really existed: they share land, livestock, and even speak their own dialect (Rionorês), an ancient mixture of Portuguese and Castilian. It's very curious to cross from one country to the other on foot in the middle of the main street. 3. The Schist Landscape and Nature Located in the Montesinho Natural Park, the village is visually stunning. The houses are made of dark schist with wooden balconies, typical of Trás-os-Montes, and are very well preserved. The Onor River, which crosses the village, has clear waters and creates a very pleasant natural river beach in the summer, perfect for picnics. 4. The "Roman" Bridge The old stone bridge (which is actually from the 19th century, despite its popular name) is the village's postcard image. The reflection of the arches in the water with the schist houses in the background creates one of the most photogenic landscapes in Northern Portugal. Visiting Rio de Onor is like stepping back in time and understanding how communities survived in isolation in the mountains, supporting each other. It's a lesson in life and history in an incredible natural setting.

The Bragança Cathedral was designed by the architect Vassalo Rosa and was inaugurated in 2001, being the first cathedral built in the 21st century. It is a 10,000 square meter space, with seating arranged in an amphitheatre and a pentagonal design of the surrounding area, which distinguishes the contemporary architecture of the monument. Dedicated to Our Lady Queen, it reflects the region in which it is located, from the construction materials, the vegetation of the gardens and even the orientation of the doors. Inside, the tabernacle has the geographical shape of the district and the expression lines of Christ drawn on the ceramic panel by Mário Silva, behind the main altar, reveal a Northeastern style.

In the heart of the Montesinho Natural Park, Praia Fluvial de França stretches out peacefully along the banks of the Sabor River. Unsupervised, but perfect for a peaceful swim, it is also the ideal place for picnics, with a welcoming and well-equipped picnic area. A simple yet charming retreat.

Rio de Onor is a sleepy little village right on the Portugal/Spain border. The drive through it is a challenging one and absolutely not recommended for larger campervans.

Small village in the Montesinho National Park. From here you can follow the old levadas to the river and there is also an excellent river beach...

Rio de Onor is one of the most emblematic villages in Bragança and the Montesinho Natural Park, and was elected the 7th Wonder of Portugal in 2017 – a village in a protected area. Crossing the border with Spain, on one side is Rio de Onor, and on the other, Rihonor de Castilla, which is why it is said to be “one village, two countries”!

Beautiful population center located at the foot of França in the middle of the Montesinho National Park. Green, round hills only crossed by towns like this!