LINHARES DA BEIRA
N 40º 32' 27''; W 7º 27' 40''
Linhares is a municipality (freguesia) in the Portuguese district of Celorico da Beira. It has 259 inhabitants (2011). Linhares is one of the twelve historic villages, the Aldeias Históricas.
Located at about 800 meters above sea level on the edge of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, the place is about 15 km from the district town of Celorico da Beira.
In 1994, thanks to its historical importance and its diverse and well-preserved building fabric, the place received a qualification as Aldeia Histórica (historical village), and in 1998 it was included in the newly created program of the Aldeias Históricas de Portugal. Since then, tourism has gained in importance, focusing not on mass tourism, but nature tourism (hiking, paragliding, etc.) and rural tourism.
Among its 28 listed buildings are several mansions, fountains, churches, and earlier public buildings, mainly from the 16th century and some with Manueline windows. In addition to buildings of Jewish life in the village, the remains of the Roman road, the Romanesque-Gothic castle from the 12th century, and the 11th-century parish church (Igreja Paroquial) Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção, which after various extensions shows Romanesque, Mannerist and Baroque elements, and in its interior contains wall paintings and gilded (Talha Dorada) altarpieces and coffered ceilings.
At the Miradouro Virtual (virtual vantage point) you can call up not only the view, but also a virtual city tour and films and texts. Photos with virtual historical background projections can be taken on the photomaton.
There is a paragliding simulator here and a paragliding school. International paragliding events also take place here.
A tourist office is located in the fortress tower. Various hiking and cycling trails are laid out in the municipality.
