Sernancelhe

The Beiras


Sernancelhe, a tranquil village 30km northwest of Trancoso, boasts a pristine historic centre fashioned out of warm, beige-coloured stone. There are no outstanding sights as such but its 12th-century Igreja de São Jão Baptista sports a handsome facade and you'll find several grand 17th- and 18th-century townhouses, including the elegant Solar dos Cavalhos. All around, verdant hills bloom with what are considered to be Portugal’s best chestnuts.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Beiras attractions

1. Igreja de São Jão Baptista

0.03 MILES

Sernancelhe's principal church is a lovely example of Romanesque architecture. Dating from the late 12th century, it has a striking facade whose main…

2. Penedono

8.12 MILES

The main draw of this sleepy little village is Penedono's small but splendid castle. Towering over the main street in the upper village, this crenellated…

3. Castelo de Penedono

8.14 MILES

Penedono's 14th-century castle, effectively an irregular hexagonal keep crowned by a fairytale crenellation, commands fine views over the Planalto. You…

4. Visigothic Tombs

11.19 MILES

Across the road from the Portas do Prado by the courthouse car park, you'll find an untended mass of grey rocks, many of which have been shaped into eerie…

5. Old Town

11.31 MILES

Trancoso's walled centre is a charming maze of picturesque squares, attractive churches and narrow cobbled lanes. Several medieval gates puncture the…

6. Castelo

11.33 MILES

On a hill in the northeast corner of the historic centre is Trancoso's landmark castle, with its crenellated towers and the distinctively slanted walls of…

7. Marialva

13.78 MILES

Overlooking the rugged valley of the Rio Côa, hilltop Marialva is dominated by its forbidding 12th-century castle. Below the fort's robust walls, the…

8. Castelo de Marialva

13.78 MILES

From its striking hilltop position, Marialva's castle is visible from miles around. The 12th-century castelo is far from intact but it's still an…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "portugal/the-planalto/attractions/sernancelhe/a/poi-sig/1612891/1335981",
      "destination": "The-Beiras",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Portugal",
      "region": "The-Beiras",
      "position": "superzone"
    }