Distance: 86 km Total Ascent: 945 metres
Another day and another castle to investigate – naturally located on a strategic hilltop.
Monsaraz is one of Portugals oldest villages, disputed and successively occupied by the Moors and Christian forces. It was finally recovered in 1232 with the help of the Knights Templar and became an important fortress.
Lovely cycling today and the scenery can best be described as lush, textured, colorful and generally bucolic. We passed deep red pastures of freshly turned soil, healthy green crops and wildflowers in abundance.
