Sortelha

The village of Sortelha is an amazing place that brings us to the Middle Ages, when the defense of the borders from the Spanish was essencial to Portugal. It seems that time stood still. The buildings made of sound granite, with red roofs, are embraced by the walls of the impressive Sortelha Castle. The origins of Sortelha are unknown. However, traces of the Bronze and Iron Ages were found in the parish, as well as some evidences of the Roman presence. The king D. Sancho I gave orders to populate the area, but it was king Sancho II who chartered this village in 1228. However, the most important mark of Sancho II is the edification of the Castle, promoted not only to defend the site, but also, and mainly, to maintain the border with Castile-Spain, which was, by that time, the Côa River.

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