Lanhoso Castle
The castle of Lanhoso, located at the northern entrance of the village of Póvoa de Lanhoso, is one of the most imposing Portuguese castles, and a highlight in the regional tourist circuit. Built at the top of Monte do Pilar – the largest granite monolith in the country -, isolated in the division of the valleys of the Ave and Cávado rivers, within its walls was built a sixteenth-century sanctuary, using the very stone of the ancient walls. At the half slope, on its access, the remains of an ancient Romanized settlement can be appreciated. Tradition has it that the Countess Teresa de Leão, the mother of D. Afonso Henriques (1112-1185), has taken refuge in this castle twice.
Diverlanhoso – adventure park
DiverLanhoso is one of the largest adventure parks in the Iberian Peninsula and one of the largest in Europe! It offers more than 50 sports, adventure and nature activities, a restaurant with typical Minho gastronomy, a swimming pool, multipurpose rooms and many other facilities, all in the same place. Located in the parish of Oliveira, a few kilometres from the Rural Hotel Vila Joaquina, please contact us to book activities.
Filigree
Póvoa de Lanhoso is one of the most important centres of handicraft production of the world famous Portuguese filigree. Filigree is the art of working gold and silver through delicate threads of these materials, finely intertwined and juxtaposed, forming works of high complexity, form and aesthetic wealth. A few kilometres from the Rural Hotel Vila Joaquina, in the neighbouring parishes of Travassos and Sobradelo da Goma, you can find and visit several filigree workshops. In Travassos there is a Gold Museum, and in the Tourism Office of Póvoa de Lanhoso you will find several useful information.