Monsaraz & the Great Lake

Wine at Esporão, the walled village above the Alqueva lake and the village rebuilt above the water.

A day of wine and wide horizons in the Alentejo: a tasting at Herdade do Esporão, the walled village of Monsaraz above the Alqueva lake and Aldeia da Luz, rebuilt when the old village went under the water. The tasting is paid separately and your driver does the driving. For couples and wine lovers.

The day, stop by stop

1. 

   1

   Herdade do Esporão

   Herdade do Esporão, near Reguengos de Monsaraz, is one of the best-known wineries in the Alentejo. Among vineyards, olive groves and an old tower, you can tour the cellar, taste wines and olive oils and, if you like, have lunch at the estate restaurant. All of this is booked ahead and paid separately. Your driver waits while you take your time over the tasting. In the late afternoon, Monsaraz is close by and makes a natural end to the day.

2. 

   2

   Monsaraz

   Monsaraz is a walled village on a hilltop, with two main streets of schist and white houses leading up to a castle. From the top you look over the vast Alqueva lake, dotted with small islands, and the plain stretching to Spain. There is little traffic and a lot of quiet, and at night, far from city lights, the sky fills with stars. Wear shoes with good grip, as the stone gets slippery. Come for sunset and have dinner in one of the village restaurants.

3. 

   3

   Aldeia da Luz

   Aldeia da Luz is a new village, inaugurated in 2002 to rehouse the people of the old village of Luz, which was flooded by the waters of the Alqueva dam. The houses, the church and the cemetery were rebuilt from scratch, laid out much like the original. The Museu da Luz tells the story of the move and has a window looking out over the spot where the old village once stood. It is a quiet, moving visit that takes about an hour. Check the museum's opening hours beforehand.

The essentials

Duration

10 h · Full day

Pick-up

At your hotel. The final price depends on where you are staying; we confirm it when you tell us.

Included

The car and the driver, only for your group, tolls and water.

Not included

Entrance tickets and meals.

Who it is for

Couples; wine lovers.

The route