This small town in northern Portugal produces the region's distinctive Alvarinho wine. Its 12th-century castle overlooks the Minho River and Spanish border.
Melgaço sits at Portugal’s northern edge, where the Minho River separates the country from Spain. The 12th-century Castle of Melgaço stands on a hill, built to guard against invasions. Vineyards spread across terraced slopes below, growing grapes used for crisp white wines. You can walk through the stone halls of the Church of Santo André in Fiães, bathe in the warm pools at Termas do Peso, or examine silent film projectors at the Cinema Museum. Trails lead past ancient stone monuments and through mountain villages like Castro Laboreiro, where shepherds once moved livestock between seasonal pastures.
Visit the Castle of Melgaço and Its Surroundings
Begin at the Castle of Melgaço, constructed in 1170 under Portugal’s first king. Climb the battlements to see the Minho Valley and the Spanish border. The old town below has narrow streets with restaurants serving smoked ham and local Alvarinho wine. Look for the 12th-century Church of Santa Maria da Porta, its entrance marked by a carved stone wolf. Visit the Praça da República to see fragments of medieval weapons and fortress walls displayed near modern cafes.
Sample Wines at Solar do Alvarinho
Melgaço lies within the Monção e Melgaço wine region, specializing in Alvarinho grapes. The Solar do Alvarinho, a restored 1600s manor, provides tastings of crisp white wines in a room with leather seating. Downstairs, shelves hold jars of quince jam, wheels of cheese, and handwoven linens. Follow the Rota do Alvarinho road to vineyards like Quinta da Calçada, where staff explain how grapes are pressed and aged in oak barrels.
Bathe in Termas do Peso Thermal Spa
Termas do Peso, four kilometers from town, has mineral-rich waters used for health treatments since the late 1800s. The spa now includes indoor thermal pools, massage rooms, and a garden with an outdoor pool. Purchase a day pass to use the steam sauna or join a guided stretching session. Afterward, walk along the Minho River on flat paths shaded by oak trees.
Examine Film History at the Cinema Museum
The Museu de Cinema displays cameras, posters, and editing equipment donated by French film critic Jean-Loup Passek. One room holds a replica of the Lumière brothers’ 1895 cinematograph machine. During August, the museum screens documentaries as part of a film festival. Staff occasionally demonstrate how to repair scratched film reels using specialized tools.
Hike Trails in Peneda-Gerês National Park
Melgaço borders Peneda-Gerês, a park with granite peaks and deep river gorges. Walk the Rodeiro trail to see waterfalls and old watermills near Lamas de Mouro. Guides lead groups through the Laboreiro River’s canyon, where you’ll wade through pools and rappel down rock faces. In Castro Laboreiro village, stone houses cluster below a ruined 9th-century castle overlooking two valleys.
Stroll the Minho River Boardwalk
A paved path follows the Minho River from Santa Maria da Porta Church to Ponte da Cava da Velha bridge. Fishermen cast lines for trout near small docks, and benches face the water. In March, almond trees near the bank sprout white and pink flowers. Look for the Senhora da Orada chapel, built with stones taken from pre-Christian religious sites.
Join Seasonal Festivals and Markets
April’s Festa do Alvarinho e do Fumeiro fills streets with stalls selling smoked sausages and wine from recent harvests. During August, the documentary film festival includes outdoor movie screenings in the castle courtyard. December brings the Festa do Espumante, where producers pour sparkling wines made using traditional methods. Smaller villages host processions like Corpo de Deus, where locals create flower mosaics on church steps.
Explore Castro Laboreiro Village and Castle
Drive 25 kilometers to Castro Laboreiro, a mountain settlement at 1,033 meters elevation. Hike to the castle ruins for views of the Peneda-Gerês peaks and valleys dotted with sheep. The village’s Church of Santo André de Fiães retains faded 13th-century frescoes above its altar. Sleep in a stone guesthouse to hear cowbells at dawn and see stars unobscured by city lights.
Eat Regional Dishes in Local Restaurants
Order roast goat seasoned with garlic or lamprey fish cooked in wine at Taberna do Valentim. Snack on thin slices of cured ham with cornbread at family-run taverns. For dessert, try toucinho do céu, a dense almond cake created by nuns in the 1700s. Many restaurants keep bottles of sparkling Espumante wine chilled for post-meal toasts.
Plan Your Trip to Melgaço
Fly into Porto Airport, then rent a car for the two-hour drive north. Buses from Porto stop near the castle three times daily. Stay at Hotel Castelo de Melgaço to use their thermal spa discounts or book a room at Quinta da Calçada vineyard. Wear shoes with grip for slippery castle steps and mountain trails. Museums cost between €2 and €5, with free admission on the first Sunday of each month.
