Day Itinerary
17 Activities
Day 2
172 mi2 mi
Fantasy Trees, Princesses in Towers and Strange Masks
Today you will start the day hiking through a thousand year old yew forest that looks like it has been taken out of a fairy tale of fantasy and magic, the children will love it. These imposing trees have roots so long and dense that footbridges have been built to preserve them. From there you will cross the border into Portugal and go to a small village in the heart of the Montesinho Natural Park that will surprise you and kids will love.
Then you'll arrive in Bragança, a typical Portuguese city, but with a very beautiful walled citadel that rises above the city, giving it a unique stamp. There you'll visit a castle, which houses a museum, the little ones feel like real knights there. From the top of the tower you will see dreamlike views. Beside the castle you'll learn about legends of real princesses locked up in real towers...
After that you'll visit a very peculiar museum inside the citadel with pagan masks and costumes that will attract the attention of the little ones. Then you're gonna tour the walls and play in the surrounding area. Later you'll make your way to the city of Toro. From the top of the old town, at sunset you will be able to enjoy views of the Duero River that will captivate you even more than the famous wine of the region.
Then you'll arrive in Bragança, a typical Portuguese city, but with a very beautiful walled citadel that rises above the city, giving it a unique stamp. There you'll visit a castle, which houses a museum, the little ones feel like real knights there. From the top of the tower you will see dreamlike views. Beside the castle you'll learn about legends of real princesses locked up in real towers...
After that you'll visit a very peculiar museum inside the citadel with pagan masks and costumes that will attract the attention of the little ones. Then you're gonna tour the walls and play in the surrounding area. Later you'll make your way to the city of Toro. From the top of the old town, at sunset you will be able to enjoy views of the Duero River that will captivate you even more than the famous wine of the region.
11.1 mi
25 min
09:251 hr 30 min
Bosque de Tejedelo
Landmark
Open Details
Good morning!
You will start the day walking through a thousand year old yew forest. A marvel preserved in nature that is worth a walk and that the children will love because it looks like a forest full of magic.
You can leave the car next to the place where the path begins. It is very well signposted, easy to do with the kids and takes about an hour and a half (depending on the pace).
I sugest you to take water, comfortable shoes and something to eat, just in case.
The trail starts by crossing a fence on the right side to access the path. There are no trees for the first few metres, so it is a good idea to do it early in the morning if hot weather. Further on, you will find the first picnic area, cross the wooden bridge and continue to the right.
The terrain ascends a little and then you reach an oak forest, which indicates that the vegetation is getting more and more intense. In this first forest you will reach a fork, take the right, in the Mirador de las Peñas del Veladero direction (you will return by the path on the left later).
Then the terrain gets a bit more difficult, you have to continue until you reach a log that acts as a bridge over a small river. Cross it and from there you will enter the real thousand-year-old forest of Yew trees.
You will see that there are wooden walkways, which are there not only to facilitate the passage, but also to preserve the leafy roots that extend along the ground like long arms.
Then this beautiful path turns and will take you back the way you came.
You will start the day walking through a thousand year old yew forest. A marvel preserved in nature that is worth a walk and that the children will love because it looks like a forest full of magic.
You can leave the car next to the place where the path begins. It is very well signposted, easy to do with the kids and takes about an hour and a half (depending on the pace).
I sugest you to take water, comfortable shoes and something to eat, just in case.
The trail starts by crossing a fence on the right side to access the path. There are no trees for the first few metres, so it is a good idea to do it early in the morning if hot weather. Further on, you will find the first picnic area, cross the wooden bridge and continue to the right.
The terrain ascends a little and then you reach an oak forest, which indicates that the vegetation is getting more and more intense. In this first forest you will reach a fork, take the right, in the Mirador de las Peñas del Veladero direction (you will return by the path on the left later).
Then the terrain gets a bit more difficult, you have to continue until you reach a log that acts as a bridge over a small river. Cross it and from there you will enter the real thousand-year-old forest of Yew trees.
You will see that there are wooden walkways, which are there not only to facilitate the passage, but also to preserve the leafy roots that extend along the ground like long arms.
Then this beautiful path turns and will take you back the way you came.
20.1 mi
50 min
10:4545 min
Aldeia de Montesinho
Landmark
Open Details
I suggest you stop in this village and also stop in time. It is a small but very picturesque village with typical transmontane architecture, with slab roofs, granite walls and wooden railings.
This is one of the best preserved villages. It is located at a high altitude, so high that it is one of the highest in Portugal.
For us it was a very nice experience to wander around it, through its little streets, we entered the church and my children climbed as many little stairs as they could find along the way. Luckily the locals didn't get angry and let them play. They also enjoyed exploring it and stopping at small details that they found interesting.
It is an unmissable stop when crossing the Montesinho Natural Park.
This is one of the best preserved villages. It is located at a high altitude, so high that it is one of the highest in Portugal.
For us it was a very nice experience to wander around it, through its little streets, we entered the church and my children climbed as many little stairs as they could find along the way. Luckily the locals didn't get angry and let them play. They also enjoyed exploring it and stopping at small details that they found interesting.
It is an unmissable stop when crossing the Montesinho Natural Park.
14.3 mi
30 min
12:005 min
Jardim da Avenida João da Cruz
Park
Open Details
I recommend parking in this area, there is usually place and you will be close to the most interesting places to visit.
0.2 mi
5 min
12:1030 min
Igreja de São João Baptista (antiga Sé de Bragança)
Church
Open Details
You will surely arrive at this square and want to visit this church, which at a certain moment was the cathedral of Bragança (in fact it is called the old cathedral). It is a very old place, from the 16th century and one of the most valuable buildings in the city.
First it was a convent, then a cathedral, but the bishopric found it too small to hold this title and ordered the construction of the new cathedral, leaving this building as a church again.
This church is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 13:00 in the mornings and from 14:00 to 17:30 h. in the afternoons.
First it was a convent, then a cathedral, but the bishopric found it too small to hold this title and ordered the construction of the new cathedral, leaving this building as a church again.
This church is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 13:00 in the mornings and from 14:00 to 17:30 h. in the afternoons.
0.1 mi
5 min
12:451 hr
Restaurante Solar Bragançano
Restaurant
Open Details
Eating here was a luxury, because of the cosy atmosphere, the food, which was delicious, and the treatment of the staff, who are very friendly people, especially with the children.
They are open every day from 12:00 to 15:00 and from 19:00 to 22:00 h. Except Mondays when they are closed for a break. For bookings or enquiries please call: +351 273 323 875
They are open every day from 12:00 to 15:00 and from 19:00 to 22:00 h. Except Mondays when they are closed for a break. For bookings or enquiries please call: +351 273 323 875
0.2 mi
5 min
13:501 min
Jardim da Avenida João da Cruz
Park
Open Details
Time to look for the car to go to fight at the castle, sorry, to visit the castle.
1.3 mi
10 min
14:051 min
Estacionamento Cidadela
Parking
Open Details
A lot of people walk to the citadel, a lot of people without children .... haha..
I recommend parking here as it's spacious and easy to access.
I recommend parking here as it's spacious and easy to access.
0.1 mi
5 min
14:151 hr
Castle Bragança
Landmark
Open Details
If you have kids who like armour and knights, they'll be delighted to wander around, and if you have daughters who enjoy legends and towers with princesses, they'll find some of that here too.
Let's go! To arms my brave ones!
I really liked the inside of the Tribute Tower: the stairs, the acceses to the different rooms, the ceilings (sorry, the architecture gets to me)... and yes, also the exhibition of course. In some rooms I have seen weapons that I have never seen in other places.
The views of the city from the top of the tower are a spectacle and I was moved by the legends surrounding the Princess Tower... Rapunzel had a great time compared to those women!
And since we are standing here, I invite you to reflect that in this strategic location, where the castle stands, there were Celts, then the Romans came, the Visigoths, the Muslims who took it from them and then the Christians who recovered it. Well let's just say it was a very popular and fun neighbourhood in those times.
Opening hours of the castle: Tuesday to Sunday from 9h00 to 12h00 and from 14h00 to 17h00. Friday from 9h00 to 12h00 Phone number: (351) 273 322 378
Let's go! To arms my brave ones!
I really liked the inside of the Tribute Tower: the stairs, the acceses to the different rooms, the ceilings (sorry, the architecture gets to me)... and yes, also the exhibition of course. In some rooms I have seen weapons that I have never seen in other places.
The views of the city from the top of the tower are a spectacle and I was moved by the legends surrounding the Princess Tower... Rapunzel had a great time compared to those women!
And since we are standing here, I invite you to reflect that in this strategic location, where the castle stands, there were Celts, then the Romans came, the Visigoths, the Muslims who took it from them and then the Christians who recovered it. Well let's just say it was a very popular and fun neighbourhood in those times.
Opening hours of the castle: Tuesday to Sunday from 9h00 to 12h00 and from 14h00 to 17h00. Friday from 9h00 to 12h00 Phone number: (351) 273 322 378
0.2 mi
5 min
15:2045 min
Museu Ibérico da Máscara e do Traje
Landmark
Open Details
This site was a lot of fun for my children and very interesting for the older ones. It is about traditional costumes and masks, which are still used in many places today, for pagan festivals or carnival.
My children imagined that some of them were super heroes and some were terrible villains, they gave them funny names and we all laughed a lot at their witticisms. I couldn't explain them anything from the information boards, but they certainly had a great time.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday 09h00 - 13h00 | 14:00 - 17:00 Closed on Monday (except Carnival Monday) To find out more click here.
My children imagined that some of them were super heroes and some were terrible villains, they gave them funny names and we all laughed a lot at their witticisms. I couldn't explain them anything from the information boards, but they certainly had a great time.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday 09h00 - 13h00 | 14:00 - 17:00 Closed on Monday (except Carnival Monday) To find out more click here.
0.1 mi
5 min
16:1515 min
Castelo de Bragança: Portas de Santo António
Open Details
A very funny thing for the children was walking, or better to say running... around the wall, going up and down the stairs, shooting imaginary arrows at invisible enemies... there was no truce, but in the end victory was on our side, they got tired and we were able to continue the route!
0.3 mi
10 min
16:451 min
Estacionamento Cidadela
Parking
Open Details
After this brief visit to Portugal it is time to move on to Spain and visit Toro.
82.3 mi
1 hr 40 min
19:301 min
Parking in Toro
Parking
Open Details
This is the area we used for parking, it is very close to the old town.
0.3 mi
10 min
19:4515 min
El Espolón
Open Details
I recommend you to admire the views of the Duero River and the valley at sunset. It is a very nice walk, to stop and contemplate the views calmly.
0.3 mi
10 min
20:1015 min
Plaza Mayor
Landmark
Open Details
The best thing to do is to go around the Collegiate Church of Santa María La Mayor, which you can only see from the outside (because it closes at 18:30 h.) but which is still a spectacle to see illuminated, and go up to the Plaza Mayor, from where the Puerta de Mercado street starts.
Go up this street, which is the most beautiful and certainly the most important street in Toro, together with its continuation: Corredera street, which is so called when it passes on the other side of the beautiful Clock Tower that is further on.
Go up this street, which is the most beautiful and certainly the most important street in Toro, together with its continuation: Corredera street, which is so called when it passes on the other side of the beautiful Clock Tower that is further on.
0.2 mi
5 min
20:3015 min
Torre del Reloj
Landmark
Open Details
Not a building that can be visited, this was one of the gates that gave access to the walled city of El Toro in the past. It was ordered to be built by Felipe V in the 18th century and is one of the emblems of the city.
0.2 mi
5 min
20:501 hr 30 min
Restaurante La Esquina de Colás
Restaurant
Open Details
This restaurant was recommended to us and, as good things must be told, I recommend it to you without hesitation.
The treatment of the staff, the dishes were very good and plentiful. Everything was great.
As my husband was driving, I indulged myself with a good Toro wine (we had also bought a couple of bottles to drink another day, back at home ). Toro wines are highly appreciated and, to tell the truth, I had not tasted any until that night. For dessert? I had to order a coffee because the glass of wine was abundant and I'm not used to it...
To make a reservation you should call: +34 980 69 31 31 Open Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 to 23:00. Sundays from 12:00 to 16:30 h. Tuesdays from 12:00 to 16:00 h. And closed on Wednesdays for a break.
Enjoy your meal! It has been a pleasure to do this route guiding you through such fantastic places that have left me with such good memories. I hope you enjoyed this trip very much.
See you in the next rute!
As my husband was driving, I indulged myself with a good Toro wine (we had also bought a couple of bottles to drink another day, back at home ). Toro wines are highly appreciated and, to tell the truth, I had not tasted any until that night. For dessert? I had to order a coffee because the glass of wine was abundant and I'm not used to it...
To make a reservation you should call: +34 980 69 31 31 Open Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 to 23:00. Sundays from 12:00 to 16:30 h. Tuesdays from 12:00 to 16:00 h. And closed on Wednesdays for a break.
Enjoy your meal! It has been a pleasure to do this route guiding you through such fantastic places that have left me with such good memories. I hope you enjoyed this trip very much.
See you in the next rute!
43.4 mi
1 hr
23:30