Marvão Castle – Historic Village of Marvão loop from Alter do Chão

Marvão Castle – Historic Village of Marvão loop from Alter do Chão

Hard

riders

Marvão Castle – Historic Village of Marvão loop from Alter do Chão

05:29

112km

1,600m

Road cycling

Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 19, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 112 km for 78 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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658 m

Tribute to the Horse 🐎 in Alter do Chão

Highlight • Monument

The Monument to the Alter Real Horse in Alter do Chão is a bronze equestrian statue inaugurated on October 15, 2005. Created by sculptors Maria Leal da Costa and Luís Valadares, the work pays homage to the village's horse breed, with the specimen "Oheide" as its model.

The Monument and Tradition

Location: Vila de Alter do Chão, in Alentejo.

Authors: Maria Leal da Costa and Luís Valadares.

Model: The stallion "Oheide", a symbol of the genetic purity of the Alter Real breed.

Meaning: Public tribute from the local people to the region's foremost ambassador.

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1.65 km

Tribute to the Alter Real horse of Alter do Chão

Highlight • Monument

Mural in homage to the Alter Real

Initially called Alter-do-chão, but later its name was changed to Alter-Real, the breed is descended from Andalusian horses brought from Spain. Between 1809 and 1810, the breed was threatened during the Napoleonic invasions, when General Junot's French troops stole the best specimens of the breed. Crossbreeding with Thoroughbreds and Arabians weakened the breed, causing a great loss of its racial character, with 12 pure Zapata mares of the breed remaining.

They were saved from extinction through the importation of three Andalusian stallions in 1992 directly from Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. At the end of the 20th century, measures were taken to restore the Alter-Real to its former characteristics and its best use in the modern world, in addition to its preservation.

Today, the reproduction of the Alter-Real is controlled by the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture and its use is in Equestrianism and Dressage and it participated in the formation of the Brazilian Manga-Larga Paulista and Manga-Larga Marchador horses at the beginning of the 19th century.

(Source:Wikipedia)

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11.4 km

Old Crato station

Highlight • Monument

Old station on the East line

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41.9 km

Miradouro

Viewpoint

48.8 km

Cidade romana de Ammaia

Nature Reserve

55.8 km

Marvão Castle

Highlight • Castle

What a nice place, enormous castle with fantastic view, amazing. Definitely worth looking at

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56.1 km

Historic Village of Marvão

Highlight • Settlement

Great historical village on a mountain top. In addition to beautiful white houses, it offers a ruined castle, a beautiful garden and a wonderful all-round view of the surrounding countryside.

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67.6 km

Castelo de Vide

Highlight • Settlement

Far in the northeast of Alentejo lies Castelo de Vide, just a few kilometers from the border with Spain. The town is often called Cidade branca (white city), which is primarily due to the pretty whitewashed houses of the town. The highlight of the town (besides its great location in the Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede) is the 14th-century Castelo de São Roque. From the castle, you have a fantastic view of the old town. Other sights in Castelo de Vide include the old Jewish quarter with the oldest synagogue in Portugal and the numerous churches and chapels of the town.

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