# Alentejo: standing stones, marble towns and border castles

> 4-day road trip of about 248 km (154 mi) with 7 stops, from Évora to Marvão Castle. About 3 h 26 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b3-alentejo-castles/

**At a glance:** 4-day road trip of about 248 km (154 mi) with 7 stops, from Évora to Marvão Castle. About 3 h 26 min of driving in total. A prehistoric stone circle among cork oaks, the hilltop village of Monsaraz, marble towns and the eagle’s nest of Marvão.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 248 km (154 mi) |
| Driving | 3 h 26 min |
| Suggested days | 4 |
| Stops | 7 |
| Route | Évora → Marvão Castle |
| Countries | Portugal |
| Updated | August 10, 2026 |

## Route description

Évora, with its Roman temple and bone chapel, makes a fine start. Just west of town a dirt road leads through cork oak woods to the Almendres Cromlech, a circle of about 95 standing stones older than Stonehenge; go early or at sunset.

Head east across rolling wheat fields and vineyards to Monsaraz, a walled village on a hill above the Alqueva reservoir, one of Europe’s largest artificial lakes; the area is also known for its dark night skies. From here drive north to Vila Viçosa, the town of the dukes of Braganza, where even the pavements are marble.

Next is Estremoz, a white marble town with a castle keep above it and a big Saturday market on its main square. Take the N18 north through Portalegre and the green Serra de São Mamede to Castelo de Vide, a spa town of whitewashed lanes and an old Jewish quarter.

End at Marvão, a walled village on a granite crag at almost 900 m, with views over Spain and Portugal. Spring, when the fields are full of flowers, and autumn are best; summer temperatures often pass 40 °C. The roads are quiet and easy, ideal for motorhomes.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Évora** (Portugal)
2. **Almendres Cromlech** (Guadalupe, Portugal): Some 95 standing stones on a slope among cork oaks, one of the largest megalithic monuments in Iberia. The last few kilometres are a dirt road, passable with care; lovely at sunset.
3. **Monsaraz** (Portugal)
4. **Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa** (Vila Viçosa, Portugal): The long marble-fronted palace of the dukes of Braganza, Portugal’s last royal family, on a vast square. The town is built of the local marble, even the pavements.
5. **Estremoz** (Portugal)
6. **Castelo de Vide** (Portugal)
7. **Marvão Castle** (Marvão, Portugal): A walled village and castle on a granite crag above the Spanish border, with views across the Alentejo into Spain. Park outside the gate; the lanes inside are tight.