Rabaçal
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Rabaçal
- Residents: 291 aprox.
- Province:
Information
Get to know Rabaçal
This small village in central Portugal belongs to the municipality of Penela. It is well known because in its vicinity was discovered a large Roman complex of houses and agricultural outbuildings.
The pilgrim should know that this place is perfect for contemplating nature and getting into the rural world of Portugal after a tough stage.
<pLocation
How to get there
To get to Rabaçal the easiest way is to go to Coimbra or Lisbon and from there take a bus, since due to its small size it does not have a good transport network.
To get from Coimbra take the A-13 road to Penela. Junction with the N-110 road and then take the IC-3 to a narrow road, the M-563, which leads to the center of Rabaçal.
<pIf you choose to go from Condeixa-a-Velha it is best to take the IC-3 and then the N-347-1. To go from Lisbon, take the E-1 to Condeixa-a-Velha and follow the route described above.
History / Culture
What to see
Castillo de Germanelo
Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, the so-called “Germanelo Castle” is located at an altitude of 367 meters on top of a hill in Rabaçal and, in the past, occupied a strategic position in defense of the city of Coimbra.
After the conquest of Coimbra, in 1064, it was necessary to implement a defense system to protect the city from possible attacks. It is at this time when it is believed that the castles of Penela and Soure are too far apart, which would weaken the defense of the city. For these reasons, the construction of this castle began in the 12th century.
With the conquest of Santarém in 1147, Alfonso Henriques moves the defensive boundary line towards the Tagus River, so the castle begins to lose its strategic importance.
Already in the 20th century, Salvador Dias Arnaut, a professor at the University of Coimbra, acquired the ruins of the castle, as he wanted to rebuild the line of the wall facing north. That is why some archaeological excavations were carried out, which made it possible to locate the ancient gates that were arranged in the parade ground.
This castle has one hundred and seven meters of perimeter, being recently restored a piece of wall, which culminates in 18 battlements. Of the other fragments of the wall are barely preserved ruins. However, you can see remains of alicerces that confirm the existence of ancient constructions in the small parade ground.
Villa romana de Rabaçal
The Roman Villa sits on the slope of one of the hills of the village of Rabaçal since the 4th century A.D.
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This villa is composed of the most rustic part in which some walls, pavements and canalizations are preserved and the residential part, of which today the peristyle and some surrounding buildings can be seen.
To complete the visit to this area, an Interpretation Center was erected to explain the birth, evolution and conservation of the archaeological ruins that are preserved today.
HOURS
Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00Closed on Mondays, Easter Sunday, Good Friday and January 1.
INFORMATION OF INTEREST
.E-mail: museu.rabacal@cm-penela.pt Phone: +351 239 561 856
Information of interest
Local police
xxx
Fire department
+351 239 560 100
Civil protection
xxx
Town hall
+351 239 560 120
Health center
+351 239 560 200
Tourism office
+351 239 561 856
Espaço-Museu, Rua da Igreja
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Recommended
Gastronomy
Recommended
Festivals and Pilgrimages
Local festivity
Agosto: Fiesta de Santa María Madalena
Portuguese Way
On foot
25 etapas
