The fortress town of Valença is the most important fortification of the Alto Minho and has been a national monument since 1928. It occupies a hill above the river, directly opposite Tui, and is well preserved and open to visitors.
On the Camino
The Central Route passes through the fortress at km 16.3 of the Rubiães – Tui stage. It then descends to the international bridge over the Minho and enters Galicia.
Its history
The first defences date from the late 12th century. During the War of Restoration, from 1640, the Frenchman Michel de L’Ecole turned it into a bastioned fortress, with moats, ravelins and the Coroada enclosure. It fell to the Spanish in 1654 and was soon recovered. The works were finished in 1713. In 1809 it was taken by Soult’s troops, who blew up the Porta do Sol.