Penalva do Castelo combines heritage, tradition, and natural landscapes, offering an authentic experience in the heart of inland Beira.
The name remained, but the castle disappeared over time. Penalva do Castelo, located near the River Dão, owes its name to an ancient fortress that once stood there — today with no remains, only memory and legend. Until 1957, the village was called Castendo. In the surrounding area, a sign of the future rises from the past: Eiras do Dão, a group of restored houses developed through private initiative with municipal support, shows how abandoned villages in the region can be brought back to life. Here, as in other forgotten places, each stone can tell a new story. One only needs to pause and listen, transforming old memories into possibilities for the present and the future.
