Citânia de Briteiros

The Citânia de Briteiros is one of the paradigmatic sites in the History of Portuguese and Peninsular Archaeology. Beautiful views and beautiful nature.

Beautiful site showing one of the most complex Castro settlements right in the culture’s heartland.

This settlement is unique in having a road grid that allows you to literally walk the same paths of these Iron Age people. Furthermore, there is an almost complete bath house that is a must see. The reconstructions are quite out dated, however, they still offer a vague idea of what the round houses may have looked like.

You are handed a map with some basic information, however, I’d definitively recommend buying the €5 visitor guide for more in depth information as it will enhance the visit significantly.

We were based in Braga for this bus and tried to get the number 13. However, a local told us it wasn’t running from the stop it was scheduled to run (there was no information about this at the stop, and this is the stop the tourist info centre told us to go to the day before) from and took us to Central I where it was running from for that day. This meant we missed the 8.30 bus and so decided to get a bolt to the site for ~€13 which was about 20 mins. We then walked 30 mins to the Castro Culture Museum in Briteiros. We then took a bus to Guimarães following Google Maps’ instructions which were accurate (it was not delayed about 15 mins).

Amazing place to see for history lovers. I’ve been to ancient history sites in many countries and this was as cool to me as any others. It is very very rare find a pre-Roman site anywhere in Europe. Very easy to get to and does not take a lot of physical exertion or time to appreciate the site

I found this site magical! The setting is a woodland on the top of a hill with valley and mountain views between the trees. The archaeology is incredible, with family clusters of round and rectangular buildings inhabited and developed over several centuries. The pathways, with their gutters, are an unexpected delight. We took around 2hrs- and we only left then because they closed for lunch. Ice creams and drinks are available on site and easy parking is on the main road pull in opposite the entrance.

An extensive site of historical significance covering several hectares of ruins with two reconstructed round houses and a sauna or bath house. Very wooded but pathways rocky.. well worth the views

Era um local pre-historico incrivel!

I generally love a great Roman ruin, tracing out the landscape, the boundaries of the homes, width of the streets etc but this mountain top Citania is the same but far more impressive - because it's older and set upon an enclosure of ample rocks on am uneven landscape. The paths that run off the main road or walkway are also rather impressive. And it's all stone all rocks it seems

I'm curious to know if there are many Celtic finds and I visited the local museum which is nice and offers a little glimpse of what was there. I'm not sure I'll have the chance to visit the main Celtic finds at the main museum in Guimares.

This is definitely worth the stop though.

Very interesting Iron Age settlement. It dates from the same time as the Santa Tegra settlement a little further north in Spain.
Very helpful and informative reception staff and a useful map provided.
Be careful walking around the site as there are unguarded drops. The way back to Reception from the chapel area is not well marked and we found it a bit of a scramble. Well worth the drive to get there if you are in this part of Portugal.

Beautiful and interesting archaeological site taking you back to the Iron Age... is very well kept and with notes in English and Portuguese... very large complex with many houses and walls and even the remains a of the communal bath... is a great experience and looks like a romantic and mythical setting... is historic and a place that the Portuguese people consider a treasure

Do not bring a stroller or sleeping child. Great little hike around ruins that has a great view. My little boys enjoyed the big rocks and trying to guess what it was like.

Great place to see a village of over 2000 years old.

Excellent Castro, we'll laid out and lots to see

If you like ruins and stones you may want to look at this one.

The Citânia de Briteiros is an archaeological site of the Castro culture located in the Portuguese civil parish of Briteiros São Salvador e Briteiros Santa Leocádia in the municipality of Guimarães; important for its size, "urban" form and developed architecture, it is one of the more excavated sites in northwestern Iberian Peninsula.

Although primarily known as the remains of an Iron Age proto-urban hill fort (or oppidum), the excavations at the site have revealed evidence of sequential settlement, extending from the Bronze to Middle Ages.

Unique place for those fans of history. Huge ancient town in which around 3,000 people lived. It was inhabited from bronze age to at least the Roman occupation of the Iberian peninsula. It is definitely worth a visit. If you are in the vicinity do not miss it!

Lovely spot with a lot more to see than I would have thought from the touristic guide.
Really worth a visit!

Very impressive site. The ruins are completely open to look at, and it's great to see how people used to live here. The lady at the entrance was very friendly.

Nice oppidum with remains of celtic dwellings. Very atmospheric, quite

Historical land pre Roman empire occupation and Roman occupation. It took me 1 hour to visit all the site, but it worth the walk.

Amazing walk thru ancient history.

Wow, What a city! Massive & atmospheric 2,500 yo hill fort. €3 ticket includes museum 6 min away in village which is only worth going to, to see the incredibly intricate bathhouse stone taken off site & put there. Really friendly, helpful & informative staff. This place is a National treasure and deserves more recognition. Oh, paths are really rough, definitely an issue if you have ambulatory issues.

Great site mostly low level remains but fascinating. The rock carvings are very faint so I would recommend a visit to the small museum in the village below which houses some of the more ornate stones from the location. You need to be reasonably fit and able bodied as the site has some steep climbs and descents. The view from the top is great. Remember to bring some water. There is a small visitors centre and coffee shop with a great view of the area.