Village of Óbidos
“Óbidos is a particularly special village, exquisite in every way. I could wander around these streets with my camera for hours…which I did!”
FROM A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE
One thing that puzzled me though was that the locals seemed so sad, walking with their heads hung low. Had someone died? Maybe they’d 3-putted on the 18th at Royal Óbidos and lost the match.
Then I realised, the cobblestones on those magical, meandering lanes are so uneven, they were watching out for their feet! Good point!
Óbidos walkways are charming but treacherous, especially if you’ve had a few Ginjas.
The medieval village of Óbidos is one of the most picturesque & best-preserved in all of Portugal. It’s only an hour north of Lisbon and 20 minutes from the golf hub of Praia D'el Rey.
The town was already established long before the Romans arrived in 205 BC. The castle dates back to the Roman occupation but the current layout is more Moorish combined with several restorations and reconstructions from various Portuguese kings. The main towers we see now date back to 1375. In the 19th century, the village & its castle became prosperous when King Dinis offered it to his wife Isabel who turned it into a fashionable spot for the royal court!
HIGHLIGHTS
As if the place isn’t sweet enough, they hold a ‘Chocolate Festival’ in March which by all accounts is a good time to drop in. But any time of the year is good to sample Ginja, a sour cherry liqueur served in a chocolate cup.
There’s the Medieval Market in July which is hugely colourful and maybe the best time to visit. Óbidos Vila Natal, the Christmas Festival covers pretty much all of November & December.
The most popular local dish here is bouillabaisse made from fish from the Óbidos Lagoon and the wines of the ‘Oeste’ region go particularly well.
