Castro Laboreiro
An ancient border village on the Peneda plateau, with hilltop castle ruins overlooking the wild moorland and traditional herding villages that still move between summer and winter homes.
Castro Laboreiro sits in the far north of the park, on the Laboreiro plateau at about 1,000 metres above sea level, right beside the Spanish border. On a granite hilltop next to the village stand the remains of a medieval castle. From the top you can see moorland and mountains, and prehistoric megalithic tombs are scattered around. The village keeps a distinctive tradition of seasonal migration. In summer, villagers take their livestock to the 'summer villages' higher up; in winter they move down to the 'winter villages' in the valley. Many stone hamlets from this tradition can still be seen today. The village is also known for the Castro Laboreiro Dog, a breed it developed, and has a small folk museum. It is about 1.5 hours' drive from Gerês town and is often visited together with the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peneda.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peneda
- Lindoso Castle & Granaries
- Geira Roman Road
- Portela do Homem Waterfall
- Sistelo
- Albergaria Forest
- Vilarinho da Furna
- Junceda Viewpoint