Obidos - Portugal

We left the thriving capital of Portugal and headed for a smaller but no less historic place north of Lisboa; the mediaeval town of Óbidos; one of the most picturesque and well preserved places in Portugal.  Located on the Atlantic Ocean coast and perched on a hilltop, the original part of Óbidos is encircled by a fortified wall and is one of Portugal’s gem destinations.  The name "Óbidos" originates from the Latin word “oppidum”, meaning citadel, or fortified city.  Óbidos remains today a well-preserved example of medieval architecture.


The Fortified Wall of Obidos

One of the Entrances of the Old Town of Obidos

Archeological surveys have found the remains of a forum, baths and other Roman structures near the settlement.  Sometime around 713, the Moors established a fortification on this mountain.  The area was taken from the Moors by the first King of Portugal, Alfonso Henriques, in 1148.

View of Obidos from Inside the Fortified Wall



Reminders of a Bygone Era

When 13th-century Portuguese Queen Isabel passed through Óbidos and marvelled at its beauty, her husband King Denis simply gave it to her.  For centuries after, the kings of Portugal followed suit, presenting the town to their queens as a wedding gift.  Since then, Óbidos has often been patronised by the Queens of Portugal, giving rise to its informal title as “Vila das Rainhas” (town of the Queens).

Obidos - the Town of the Queens

Once you enter the citadel, past the fortified wall, Life takes on a different dimension.  It feels like you have stumbled onto a movie set.  The change of atmosphere and the slow pace of the area take you back to a time long ago.  If you are lucky, you might even be able take a photo with an obliging knight in full costume.  Every street has its own characteristic and nothing is more pleasurable than to wander around and take in the views.

The Castle Knight Welcoming the Visitors



Houses in Obidos

There is a great variety of gift, craft and souvenir shops and eating places especially along the main street.  We selected a restaurant and tried their Spaghetti Marinara.  I was keen to compare it with the Marinaras I have previously enjoyed in Italy.  The cooking approach was understandably different but the end result did not disappoint one bit.

Souvenir Shop in Obidos



Spaghetti Marinara Obidos Style

Each July, Óbidos castle hosts a traditional 'Medieval Market'.  For two weeks the castle and the surrounding town recreate the spirit of medieval Europe.  In the main street, you can find many outlets selling souvenirs as well as the famed local liqueur called “Ginginha”; a sweet brandy liqueur made with local cherries.

Souvenirs Made out of Cork



Street Stall Selling the Fanmous Ginginha Liqueur

After a lovely lunch and one last wander in the streets, it was time to head for our next destination and a complete change of scenery.  On to the famous beach town of Nazare.  Its fame comes from the monstrous waves that regularly occur at a particular time of the year.  This is the place where only the very few brave surfers from around the world gather each year to try and tame these giants of the ocean.

Sarlat in the Perigord Noir

 

My last visit to Sarlat goes back to early 1999 when I visited my very good friend Martine and her husband Jean Louis with my two sons Thomas and Paul. I returned there early in 2015 with my dear cousin Laurence and caught up with my dear friends during the weekend of the Sarlat Festival of the Truffle.  Needless to say we had an unforgettable weekend.

 

Sarlat La Caneda is in the region called the Perigord Noir in the South West of France.  Often called just Sarlat, the town boasts some of the region’s best-preserved medieval architecture.  Well-known markets sell a smorgasbord of duck and goose-based products. 

Royal Emblem at a Sarlat House

Sarlat Building

Sarlat Building 

 

Sarlat is a medieval town that developed around a large Benedictine abbey.  Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained preserved and one of the town’s most representative of 14th century France.  It owes its current status on France's Tentative List for future nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage site to the enthusiasm of writer, resistance fighter and politician Andre Malraux.  As Minister of Culture (1960–1969), he restored the town and many other sites of historic significance throughout France.  The centre of the old town consists of impeccably restored stone buildings.

Period House with Specialty Shop on the Ground Floor

Sarlat Apartment Windows

Sarlat Street
 



Clothes Drying

Said to have been inhabited since Gallo-Roman times, Sarlat became a prosperous city at the end of the 8^th Century .  The town suffered from the Norman invasions and then from the Hundred Years War owing to its position as a frontier region between the kings of France and England.

A Location Fit for Romeo and Juliette

Covered Passageway in Sarlat

House in Sarlat
 

In medieval times Sarlat grew bigger and richer and became an important market town.  Many of the fabulous houses in Sarlat were built during this time to house the rich merchants.  The Italian Renaissance ideas were to influence one of Sarlat's famous residents; Etienne de La Boetie (born in 1530) who became a famous humanist and philosopher.  The house of his birth still stands opposite the cathedral.  Today Sarlat’s wonderful architecture and medieval style buildings and stone roofs have made a backdrop for a score of many top motion pictures since 1968.  Only Nice and Paris have had more location films shot than Sarlat.



The Home of French Philosopher La Boetie
 



Sarlat was a prosperous town throughout the 16th, 17thI and 18^th centuries, but it fell into lethargy for nearly 150 years, to wake up again only some thirty years ago when road transport supplanted river and railroad as means of communication.  Today, in addition to its unique Medieval look, Sarlat is famous for the foods that are produced locally and in the region.

Chocolate Treats

Foie Gras and Local Bergerac Wines

Foie Gras and Truffle Products

Foie Gras and Local Wines

Galette des Rois Display

Hand-Made Chocolates
 

Sarlat also hosts an annual truffle festival when food stalls fill the streets and where Sarlat’s top chefs prepare and demonstrate all types of foie gras and truffle-based delicacies.  To say that we loved the Festival and the foods on offer would be an understatement.  It was simply Heavenly.  The food, the wines, the music, the people, the atmosphere, the perfect weather all contributed to a perfect weekend and an unforgettable experience.

The Whole Black Truffle I bought at the Festival

The Marbling Look of a Cut Truffle

Foie Gras Tasty Bits for Degustation

Smallgoods Stand

Whole Cured Hams and Saucissons