Located in the southeastern corner of the Guarda district, the municipality of Sabugal covers 822.7 km², bridging the transition between the Cova da Beira region and the Iberian Meseta. It borders the municipalities of Almeida and Guarda to the north, Belmonte to the west, Fundão and Penamacor to the south, while its eastern and southern boundaries are marked by the Spanish border.
Visitors have many reasons to explore this region. In terms of natural heritage, the highlight is the Malcata Mountain Range, home to the Malcata Nature Reserve.
The region’s built heritage reveals traces of human presence in the Riba-Côa lands since prehistoric times. For an overview of this rich timeline, a visit to the Sabugal Museum is highly recommended.
Predominantly rural, the municipality’s economy is based on agriculture and livestock, with sheep and goat farming — particularly for cheese production — playing an essential role in local livelihoods.
Throughout the year, numerous religious festivals attract large numbers of visitors. Notable examples include the Our Lady of Granja festival in Soito, Our Lady of Grace in Sabugal, Our Lady of Póvoa in Sacaparte, and the ever-popular June Saints celebrations.
Among Sabugal’s most distinctive traditions is the Capeia Arraiana, a unique bullfighting ritual recognised since 2011 in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. And, of course, no visit would be complete without enjoying the flavours of the region’s traditional cuisine.
All this — and much more — awaits you in Sabugal.
Main Attractions
1 – Five Medieval Towns
From the Middle Ages to the 19th century, the territory now forming the municipality of Sabugal was divided among five distinct towns, each serving as the centre of its own municipality: Alfaiates, Sabugal, Sortelha, Vila do Touro and Vilar Maior.
Each of these towns still preserves visible traces of their historical significance — whether through military architecture or symbols of local political and judicial authority.
Sortelha, part of the prestigious Historical Villages of Portugal Network, hosts the annual "Muralhas com História" (“Walls with History”) event every September.
Meanwhile, during the Christmas season, the Historic Centre of Sabugal is transformed into a magical setting with the “Sabugal Presépio”, recognised as the largest natural nativity scene in Portugal.
2 – Malcata Mountain Nature Reserve
The most prominent feature of Sabugal’s natural heritage is, without doubt, the Malcata Mountain Nature Reserve. Covering 16,348 hectares across the municipalities of Sabugal and Penamacor, this protected area is a sanctuary for biodiversity.
Here, visitors can observe a wide variety of plant and animal species, including several that are under special protection, making it a privileged destination for nature lovers, hikers and wildlife enthusiasts.
3 – Sabugal Museum
The Sabugal Museum features two exhibition spaces.
The permanent exhibition focuses on archaeology, tracing the human presence in the Sabugal region throughout the ages.
The second space is dedicated to temporary exhibitions, which since the museum’s opening have included a wide range of disciplines — from painting and sculpture to ethnography and other cultural expressions.
4 – Capeia Arraiana
The Capeia Arraiana is a unique bullfighting tradition, specific to several villages in the municipality of Sabugal, particularly those near the Spanish border.
Unlike any other form of bullfighting, the Capeia is performed collectively, using a traditional wooden structure called the forcão, which allows the entire community to engage in the handling of the bull.
This ancestral practice takes place every August, coinciding with each village’s patron saint festivities, usually held in the main village square.
The event follows a ritual sequence: the "encerro" (driving the bull into the ring), the "boi da prova" (a test run), the Capeia itself, and finally the "desencerro", which marks the end of the celebration.
5 – Côa River
The Côa River, which rises in the Serra das Mesas (near Fóios) and flows into the Douro River near Vila Nova de Foz Côa, runs for 135 kilometres, almost entirely through natural and largely untouched landscapes.
This preserves the purity of its waters and makes the river a privileged setting for nature lovers, offering opportunities for hiking, kayaking, birdwatching and peaceful immersion in the region’s wild beauty.
Message from the Mayor
Vítor Proença
From the very beginning, we have been proud supporters and members of the Beira Interior Wine Route, created by the Beira Interior Regional Wine Commission (CVRBI) — a project the Municipality of Sabugal joined with full conviction and at the right time.
To think of a wine route is to think beyond wine itself. It is to reflect on an entire region, on its natural and economic resources, on its local products, and to envision a structure of complementarity, synergy and cooperation. It is a tourism offering where best practices from Beira Interior — and Sabugal in particular — come together in meaningful dialogue.
Anyone wishing to discover a region through its finest wines will inevitably come into contact with its gastronomy, cultural and historical heritage, accommodation options and tourist experiences — and, not to be forgotten, its stunning natural landscapes. And the natural heritage of Beira Interior is nothing short of idyllic.
Ultimately, this Wine Route that we support and embrace is a vehicle for broader, richer visitor experiences — whether for Portuguese tourists, international travellers, or visitors from our neighbouring country.
Each time a visitor or travelling family remembers Beira Interior and Sabugal for the experiences they had, the longing the place inspires, and the awe it evokes — then the Wine Route will have fulfilled its purpose and proven its true value.
What we do best deserves to be promoted, shared, and above all, defended. Only then can we ensure the sustainable development of our communities, the growth of our local economy, and the quality and recognition of our regional products.
It is with these ambitious — yet achievable — goals in mind that we stand firmly alongside the Beira Interior Wine Route.
