Attractions and Places To See around Parada - Top 5

Not a safe crossing. Perhaps ok in summer but we went in April, the water was deep and the rapids were strong and knocked me off my feet.

Castelo Mendo is a historic village with medieval roots, marked by two walls: the oldest, dating from the 12th century, surrounds the old town with its castle and the church of Santa Maria; the second, built by King Dinis in the 14th century, protected the Gothic suburb. The site was a living border between Portugal and León until the Treaty of Alcanices (1297), guarding strategic passages over the Côa River. At the entrance, two Vetón bellows, stone figures in the shape of wild boars, recall even more remote origins. Classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1984, Castelo Mendo today stands as a rare testament to the border region's history and Portuguese medieval splendor.

Descending the Côa Valley, the crossing today takes place near the river beach, where once there was a ferry. This ancient crossing point, used since ancient times, has left traces of its past: ceramics, coins, and Roman remains still bear witness to the place's long history.

Freineda, a small border village, welcomed Lord Wellington between late 1812 and the spring of 1813, during the Peninsular War. In a stone house next to the church, the general established his headquarters, while the rest of the general staff dispersed to neighboring villages. Although described at the time as poverty-stricken, the village became the scene of major military decisions. Today, it remains modest and small, but keeps the memory of that time alive: on the facade of the house where Wellington lived, a plaque commemorates his visit.

Malhada Sorda, a name evoking ancient sheepfolds and shepherds' huts, was born from the transhumance of cattle across the border. In the heart of the village stands the Church of São Miguel, dating from the late 16th century, flanked by a bell tower that once served as a prison and whose bells still echo manually during processions. Another landmark is the so-called Esnoga or Clock House, a recently restored 17th-century building, which popular tradition suggests may have been a secret synagogue.

Vilar Maior breathes history in every stone. From the 11th century until the Treaty of Alcanices in 1297, it passed from the Kingdom of León to Portugal under King Dinis, who reinforced the castle with the keep. Between medieval walls, the ruins of the Church of Santa Maria, the Manueline pillory, and prehistoric engravings, the place holds centuries of memory. Today, the streets descend from the old fortress to the plain, where manor houses, bridges, and churches continue to tell the long story of this border town.

Just a few centimetres of water

Castelo Mendo is surrounded by a fortified wall with six medieval gates. Two wild boar sculptures stand to the left and right of the main entrance. The simple stone houses originally consisted of two floors. The ground floor housed livestock, while the upper floor served as a residential building. The extremely narrow streets made it relatively easy to defend the town, which was repeatedly a battlefield during the wars in which Portugal participated, especially against Spain.