"Beja - Portugal Page" Beja by TinKan

Beja Travel Guide: 46 reviews and 180 photos

Beja - Land of cork trees and more

If you ask a Portuguese person about Beja they will tell you NOT to go there as it is in the middle of a desert and it is full of really sloooooow people (it is in Alentejo).

Beja is a small town located in the southeastern part of Portugal and at one time was a very important part of the Moors Empire.

There is much history here and some neat things to see and do so if you do ever find yourself in Beja look around and see what you can find.

Beja history from the Catholic Encyclopedia

Moors castle

The city is supposed to be the Pax Julia, or Paca, of the Romans, and is still surrounded by remains of old Roman walls, which however, were partly restored during the Middle Ages. Beja was taken from the Moors in 1162 by Affonso Henriques. It stands on the summit of a high hill surrounded by beautiful and fertile valleys under cultivation, as the district is rich in agricultural products, mainly cereals, olive oil, and wine. The best example of medieval architecture still extant in Portugal is the castle built in Beja by King Dom Diniz. It is a square, massive structure 120 feet high, from the top of which the whole of the Alemtejo country and the Cintra mountains may be seen. The walls of the castle are covered with hieroglyphics. Beja was in its early days an episcopal city, but at the time of the invasion by the Moors lost its dignity. The Cathedral of Beja is an old temple, though so much modernized as to make it impossible to determine with any degree of certainty its original date. Other famous churches are those of Our Lady of the Conception, St. Iago, or Santiago, and Santa Maria de la Feira, said to have been an old Moorish mosque. The College of St. Sissenando, which belonged to the Jesuits, and was built principally at the expense of Donna Maria Sophia, in 1695, stands in the street where the saint was born. Part of this building is now occupied by the episcopal palace. The city has about 8,000 inhabitants, modern improvements, schools, banks, libraries, etc. It is said to be the richest in Roman remains of all the cities in Portugal, except Evora, which now possesses a large collection of Roman antiquities collected in Beja.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume II
Copyright © 1907 by Robert Appleton Company
Online Edition Copyright © 1999 by Kevin Knight
Imprimatur.+John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York

Just outside of town

Nowadays Beja is a farming community and a University town with a strange mix of farmers, students and migrant workers.

We have worked in this town a few times and look forward to visiting it as we find something new each time we do.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Good place to live, good people
Cons:No McDonalds
In a nutshell:A farming community

Last visit to Beja: Jun 2002
Intro Updated Oct 12, 2003
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Reviews (9)

Queen Leonor Museum Things to Do (2)

Take a visit to the Queen Leonor Museum to see the history of the area from the Moours to the Romans to the present day.... more travel advice

Beja castle Things to Do (2)

In the ancient Roman town of Beja is a Moours castle that is the center piece of the town and can be seen for miles... more travel advice

Ovibeja Off The Beaten Path (1)

Once a year there is a big animal show called Ovibeja where people from all over the southern area of Portugal bring... more travel advice

Driving or walking around Beja Favorites (1)

While driving around the southern area you will notice that there are many oak trees, well these are not just any oak... more travel advice

Travelogues (2)

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Comments (15)

rjlambert Sep 1, 2009 at 11:43 AM Report Abuse

Is there a bus or a train from Seville to Beja? We were going to rent a car in Seville, but the drop off charges are so expensive we would like to take a bus or train from Seville to Beja and pick up a car in Beja. Is this possible. Thanks for your help.
rp6686 Mar 28, 2004 at 7:41 AM Report Abuse

Very acurate information. Portugal in its pure state...
quartinb Nov 11, 2003 at 3:58 AM Report Abuse

glad you lived in portugal.. nice pgs of ...
Goner Jun 29, 2003 at 8:14 PM Report Abuse

Another charming Portugese town, not unlike a small town in the US - tractors on the roads, etc.
tamirros Apr 21, 2003 at 7:21 PM Report Abuse

charming city and beautiful countryside of Portugal !!!!
Sweetberry1 Mar 30, 2003 at 6:50 PM Report Abuse

Great page Keith... I wouldn't miss Mackas either... ;-) Lovely pics..
acemj Mar 29, 2003 at 12:34 PM Report Abuse

Life in the slow lane sounds good for a time. Not sure if no McDonald's is a bad thing! :-)
d_d Feb 15, 2003 at 1:56 PM Report Abuse

Great page! and what a hunger!
pepples46 Jan 24, 2003 at 8:37 PM Report Abuse

que coisa linda..South Spain and Beja..two flat tyres :-0
LVMan Jan 24, 2003 at 8:36 PM Report Abuse

I think there is a school for farm animals here as well