Monsanto, Portugal – The Stone Village Built Into Giant Boulders

Monsanto is a fantastic village near Serra da Estrela, known for being one of Portugal’s Historic Villages and for its unusual houses.

The village of Monsanto is nestled on the slope of a mountain called “Cabeço de Monsanto” reaching 758 meters. Monsanto partially served as the scenario for the House of the Dragon series.

The HBO series was a prequel to the Game of Thrones series and Monsanto’s typical houses and castle served as the scenario for the series’ Dragon Stone, which represented an island.

Monsanto’s village belongs to Castelo Branco’s municipality located close to Fundão and Serra da Estrela. In the surrounding area, there are also other places of tourist interest, such as Idanha-a-Velha or even the Monfortinho spa, close to the border with Spain.

On the day we visited, it stayed all day, a typical winter day, with fog and rain.

Monsanto Village

The village of Monsanto dates back to ancient times, with evidence of human occupation since prehistoric times and has been inhabited by different peoples over the centuries, including Romans, Moors and Christians, each leaving their mark on local culture and architecture.

Monsanto is known for its schist and granite houses, built between giant rocks that create a unique urban landscape. The name “Monsanto” derives from the Latin “monte sancto”, meaning “sacred mountain”, and the village is situated on a hilltop, offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

At the top are the walls of its castle and this is part of the history of Monsanto because due to its strategic importance, its castle has been a defensive point throughout the centuries.

What to visit in Monsanto Village

In Monsanto, you must visit the village itself. Its narrow streets along the hill, always towards its highest point, where the castle is located, are a tourist attraction, with impressive beauty.

Along the streets, there are some houses built under large rocks, which appear to have rolled down the hill.

Along the climb towards the castle, we find the small church Senhora do Socorro, several houses built in schist, one of which was owned by the famous Portuguese singer known as Zeca Afonso (1929-1987). There are also other points of interest, such as fountains, small viewpoints, several fountains, the cave and the pigsties, which also used the rocks to provide comfort and protection for the animals raised here.

At the top, we find the Castle walls and several chapels, such as the Chapel of São Miguel and the ruins of the Chapel of São João. After crossing the imposing door of this fortification, we enter the castle, where its cistern and other ruins stand out. At the castle, we can observe the splendid view.

When to visit Monsanto Village

Monsanto can be visited all year round and it would be interesting to visit at any time, however, on days with a lot of rain and fog, the visit becomes a little more complicated, but it is not impossible. To avoid this, choose to visit in spring or fall. During the summer, the interior of Portugal tends to be very hot, so walking along this imposing mountain may not be so pleasant.

Historic villages

When visiting Monsanto, take advantage and complete your tour of this municipality and visit other historic villages that are around it.

Idanha-a-Velha

It is a small, almost uninhabited historic village but as a museum and an imposing wall that is certainly worth a visit.

This village dates back to Roman times, being a living testimony to the various civilizations that passed through there and left their mark.

You should not miss visiting:

Penha Garcia

Another small historic village with a castle, high on the hillside. Its historic centre is in excellent condition, providing an authentic journey through time. Its streets are narrow and winding retaining its stone houses and several historic buildings.

Location of historic villages

Between Idanha-a-Velha and Monsanto it is just 10 km. From Monsanto to Penha Garcia it is 12 km. This short distance between the villages allows them to be visited on a day trip.

Accommodation suggestions

In the village of Monsanto, you will find several accommodation options, in the small typical houses of the village. This way you can absorb the essence of this trip to the past. The Casa Pires Mateus is an example of that.

See even more accommodations available in Monsanto and Idanha-a-Velha.

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