Description Belmonte

Belmonte is a Portuguese village in the district of Castelo Branco, in the province of Beira Baixa, in the Centro region and sub-region of Beiras and Serra da Estrela, with about 3,500 inhabitants.

It is the seat of a municipality with 118.76 km² in area and 6,859 inhabitants (2011), subdivided into 4 parishes. The municipality is limited to the north by the municipality of Guarda, to the east by Sabugal, to the southwest by Fundão and to the west by Covilhã.

Belmonte is located on the left bank of the Zêzere River, in the heart of Cova da Beira, at the foot of the Serra da Estrela. The village settled on the granite hill of Serra da Boa Esperança and extended along it to the Southwest.

The streets of this ancient settlement lead to the top of a hill where the granitic mass of the old castle rises. Next to the castle is the small Roman-Gothic church dedicated to São Tiago.

Belmonte preserves its medieval environment as exemplarily as the Jews secretly preserved prayers, traditions and customs from that time until our most tolerant days, which allowed the opening of a new synagogue, Bet Eliahu, to worship.

On the road to Guarda you will find the Centum Cellas Tower on the left, a curious construction whose origin is still unknown.