The Village

Presenting a picturesque historical centre, where its rich and somewhat peculiar religious, cultural, civil and military heritage stands out, it is easy to plan a pleasant tour amongst monuments, churches, castle and elegant manor houses. All this under the watchful eye of Inês Negra, a character that continues alive in the collective imagination of the people of Melgaço, seven centuries after the events that made her historical. During the battles with Castile over Portugal’s independence, the Portuguese aristocracy joined the side of our Castilian neighbours. This woman of the people, faithful to the Portuguese cause, starts and wins an individual battle with her old enemy “Arrenegada” (the renegade), retrieving Melgaço from the hands of the Castilians.