Vila de Rei

Vila de Rei is a Portuguese village in the District of Castelo Branco, with about 3,279 inhabitants, according to the 2021 census. Sede of the municipality, it has 191.55 km² of area, being limited by Sertã, Mação, Sardoal, Abrantes and Ferreira do Zêzere.

The municipality is crossed by the National Road N2, the largest road in Portugal, and also enjoys the waters of the River Zêzere from the Albufeira de Castelo de Bode, for water catchment and bathing activities.

Within 2 km is the Geodesic Centre of Mainland Portugal, in the Serra da Melriça. At the top of this mountain range, is built a landmark about 20 meters high, called "Picoto", which marks the Center at the level of geodesic coordinates.

In backward times, and according to the oldest archaeological remains that exist in the county area, it will have been the Celts and then the Romans, their first inhabitants. It is however a very old geology zone, where it is possible to find fossils and other prehistoric remains with some frequency, which show that much older people are likely to have settled in the region. However, it was in the 14th century that, with the Orders of the Templars and Christ, the council was able to see the city, with greater settlement, development and defense of this territory.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the lands of Vila de Rei suffered the devastating impact of the French invasions. In 1950, with the construction of the Castelo de Bode dam, eight villages in the municipality were submerged.

One of the greatest natural beauties of Vila de Rei is the famous Penedo Furado, a wooded place equipped with a set of small falls of water and two viewpoints, equipped with various infrastructures that complement it.

In the historic center of the village it is worth knowing the Parish Church and the Chapels of Mercy, the Lady of The Guide and Our Lady of The Weeby and the House of Captain Mor, noble construction of the seventeenth century, used as headquarters during the time of the French invasions, and today adapted to a rural tourism unit.

In the turistco sphere, also stand out the Castro de São Miguel de Almond in the Serra da Ladeira, about 493 meters of altitude and inhabited in the Iron Age, the fantastic Falls of Poios Water or the next village of Shale of Água Formosa, situated on the bank of the Galega river.

The gastronomy stands out the famous fish soup or cod dishes, which can be the style of Vila de Rei or Cobra. Fish are those of river such as the largefish, considered the "southern trout", the barbo, the boga or the carp, which can be fried or grilled. Depending on the time of year, you can also taste the shad and lamprey. Water your meal with a beira interior wine. For dessert, do not forget the fintos cakes, the sweet rice of Vila de Rei, the bowls or the honey breads. For cheese lovers, there are yellows, spicy and other varieties, all produced in Beiras.

Source: Vila de Rei Town Hall

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useful contacts

GNR

+351 274 890 020

Avenida José Cardoso Pires, 4

6110-177 Vila de Rei

ct.ctb.dsrt.pvlr@gnr.pt

Bombeiros Voluntários de Vila de Rei

Rua dos Bombeiros Voluntários nº1

6110-172 Vila de Rei

secretaria@bvviladerei.pt Website

Centro de Saúde de Vila de Rei

+351 274 890 190

Rua Dr. Eduardo Castro

6110-218 Vila de Rei

ucsp.vrei@ulscb.min-saude.pt

Turismo de Vila de Rei

+351 274 890 000

Biblioteca Municipal José Cardoso Pires

6110–174 Vila de Rei

turismo@cm-viladerei.pt

Câmara Municipal de Vila de Rei

+351 274 890 010

Praça Família Mattos e Silva Neves

6110-174 Vila de Rei