This small Alentejo town is known for its wine production and traditional pottery workshops. Near the medieval hilltop village of Monsaraz with its 14th-century castle.
In eastern Alentejo, Reguengos de Monsaraz combines a fortified hilltop village with surrounding wine country. You can walk the medieval stone walls, taste wines at local vineyards like Esporão, watch potters work in São Pedro do Corval's workshops, or swim at the Blue Flag beach on Alqueva Reservoir. The area's dark skies make it an excellent spot for stargazing, while the nearby Xerez Cromlech reveals traces of prehistoric settlements.
Exploring Medieval Monsaraz
From the hilltop village, you'll see the Guadiana Valley stretching toward Spain. The stone walls date from Roman, Moorish, and medieval periods. Walk through the car-free lanes to find schist stone houses now housing craft shops and small restaurants serving Alentejo dishes like açorda (bread soup) and migas (bread with pork). The 16th-century parish church displays Mannerist architecture, and the castle's eastern ramparts give you views across the Alqueva Reservoir.
Water Activities at Alqueva
The Alqueva Reservoir stretches across 250 square kilometers. At Praia Fluvial de Monsaraz, a Blue Flag beach since 2017, you'll find designated swimming areas with lifeguards during summer months. The Centro Náutico De Monsaraz runs two-hour reservoir cruises and rents kayaks, paddleboards, and small boats. The beach area includes changing rooms, a café, and a children's playground.
Wine Production
The vineyards around Reguengos de Monsaraz produce DOC-certified wines from local grape varieties like Aragonez and Antão Vaz. Seven wineries welcome visitors, including small family estates and larger cooperatives. You can tour the cellars, learn about winemaking methods, and taste wines. The area's granite-rich soil and hot summers create full-bodied reds and mineral-rich white wines.
Pottery Tradition in Corval
In São Pedro do Corval, more than 20 pottery workshops line the main street. Watch artisans shape clay on manual wheels and paint decorative patterns using local techniques. The workshops produce both ornamental pieces and practical items like cooking pots and water jugs. Most studios open Monday through Saturday, and potters demonstrate their craft between 9 AM and 6 PM.
Stargazing Opportunities
The Alqueva region has clear skies on about 280 nights per year. Local municipalities keep artificial lighting low, making it possible to see the Milky Way clearly. The Dark Sky Observatory runs nightly viewing sessions where you can use professional telescopes. Several spots around the reservoir have wooden platforms for setting up personal telescopes, and local astronomers lead night sky tours explaining constellations and celestial objects.
Ancient Monuments
The Xerez Cromlech consists of 50 granite stones arranged in an oval pattern, dating from 4000-3000 BC. You can reach the site via a marked trail from the reservoir's edge. The surrounding area contains seven other megalithic monuments, including the Bulhoa dolmen and the Olival da Pega passage grave, showing how prehistoric communities marked their territory.
