"Monsanto" a Monsanto Travel Page by haiamisa

We reached Monsanto on the 19th of September. We had spent the previous night at Castelo Branco and after Monsanto we continued to Belmonte and drove via Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela to Trancoso where we spent the following night.
Monsanto is a place not to be missed if you are travelling by car. You can also get there by a bus. It is a very special old village on a hill. It claims to be the oldest village in Portugal, but who can know if it is really true. It looks like it hasn't changed for centuries. The houses are between giant granite stones, their walls carved from and moulded around the grey boulders, appearing to have grown organically from the hillside.The houses look like mushrooms growing on the mountain! It is very beautiful, flowers by the windows and very narrow streets which are cut out of the rock. There is a castle at the top which you will reach by climbing through the village. I haven't written any tips for Monsanto yet as the village itself is one big tip. Anything you see there is interesting. You can enter any local cafe (not much choice though...) for some refreshment and any local shop (not much choice either...) for some handicrafts, they all sell the same things. The local people also sell handicrafts and fruit at their doorsteps. There is a Pousada if you fancy spending a night there. There are also rooms for rent above a bar "Adega Tipica O Cruizeiro". The only restaurant is at the Pousada. I have many photos at the travelogues, let them speak for the beauty of the place!