From the beginning, man chose the lands of Penalva to inhabit them. and that thes Lands of Penalva played an important role in the defense of Christian hosts and territories north of the Mondego.
Fruit of a very own climate, the Lands of Penalva, bathed by Dão, produce a high quality wine that, together with the cheese of serra and the apple Bravo de Esmolfe constitute the "trilogy of excellence" of endogenous products. They are an added value for the livelihood of many families in the region and an added value for the local economy.
This trilogy, associated with the region's abundant game meat , allows Penalva's gastronomy to be rich and varied, and makes the county a unique destination to taste genuine and traditional flavors in warm and hospitable environments.
The Municipality of Penalva do Castelo with an area of about 140km2 , has several monuments scattered throughout the eleven parishes of the municipality.
It is worth noting the Monastery of Santo Sepulcro in Trancoselos, the first monastery to be built by the Order of Saint Sepulchre in Portugal, in the lands of Castendo.
We should also highlight the Anta do Penedo de Com, dating from prehistory, and the anthropomorphic graves, both located in the parish of Esmolfe. There is also a Roman bridge over the Dão River, in the parish of Castelo de Penalva.
With regard to the historical-cultural heritage, Penalva do Castelo has two "ex-libris": the House of Insua and the Church of Mercy, but the traces of the past can be observed a little throughout the county.
The municipality is characterized by being a territory consisting of fertile irrigated land, thanks to the rivers Dão, Coja, Ludares and Carapito and the abundant rivers that groove it: especially on the slopes north of the Dão River extend generous vineyards and orchards; to the south predominate the pastures that allow to produce cheese of excellent quality. The pine tree stands out among the species that cover the forest areas of the county. Nature is lavish and offers stunning landscapes and desirable nooks.
Source: Municipality of Penalva do Castelo