Bragança in Tras-os-Montes is near to the Spanish frontier and accessible by bus [not every day] from Zamora in Spain as well as from other Portuguese cities. Coming from Spain it is amazing how much things change when the border is crossed - certainly nobody would take this for a Spanish...

Bragança in Tras-os-Montes is near to the Spanish frontier and accessible by bus [not every day] from Zamora in Spain as well as from other Portuguese cities. Coming from Spain it is amazing how much things change when the border is crossed - certainly nobody would take this for a Spanish town. The town is pleasant enough and there's a good museum but what catches the eye and holds it is the Cidadela - a separate mediaeval village on a hill-top above the city.

There is a sort of castle which belonged to the Dukes of Bragança, who supplied the last royal family in Portugal, but it wasn't their main residence. Near it are two amazing things: the first is a pillory [pelourinho] rising from the back of a prehistoric stone pig.

The other is a pentagonal Romanesque building, which was once a council chamber. It is quite unique in the world!

Unfortunately www.bragancanet.pt is in Portuguese only but there are photos of all the above sights if you scroll down.

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