History of Barcelos
It received its foral from Afonso Henriques around 1177, and the County of Barcelos was created in 1298. The Constable Nuno Álvares Pereira was its seventh count, and his daughter Beatriz brought the title as a dowry to Afonso, the first Duke of Braganza. It has been a city since 1928 and is the Portuguese municipality with the most freguesias.
The Barcelos rooster
Legend tells of a Galician pilgrim, wrongly accused of theft, who was about to be hanged and swore his innocence before the judge, who was just about to eat a roast rooster: the rooster stood up and crowed on the table. Today the Barcelos rooster is the symbol of Portugal.
What to see in Barcelos
Medieval bridge
Built between 1325 and 1328, with five uneven arches and 100 m long over the Cávado: you enter the city across it.
Paço dos Condes
A 15th-century Gothic palace, in ruins since 1801, with the open-air archaeological museum.
Parish church
Gothic, remodelled between 1325 and 1350. National Monument since 1927.
Bom Jesus da Cruz
Baroque church with a central plan, linked to the miracle of the cross in 1504.
Population and location
The municipality of Barcelos has 116,752 inhabitants according to the 2021 census and covers about 379 km², in Braga district.
The Portuguese Camino in Barcelos
You enter from Barcelinhos over the medieval bridge; two albergues are before the crossing. In the city there is a pilgrim albergue with few beds and several hostels. To leave, take Rua Dr. Manuel Pais: the arrows on Rua Bem Feito lead to the Caminho da Rainha Santa.
Food and drink
Roast rooster, rojões with papas de sarrabulho, and vinho verde. On Thursdays one of the biggest markets in Portugal is held in Campo da República.
Frequently asked questions
How many albergues are there in Barcelos?
This guide lists 2 places to stay for pilgrims in Barcelos, with checked prices, beds and seasons.
What is the Barcelos rooster?
The symbol of a pilgrim legend: a roast rooster that crowed on the judge’s table to prove the innocence of a Galician pilgrim.
Is there a pilgrim blessing in Barcelos?
Yes, in the church of Santo António, belonging to the Capuchins, at the end of the 19:00 Mass.
