Castelo do Queijo (Cheese Castle), Porto
The Castelo do Queijo (Cheese Castle) is a noted landmark in Foz do Douro, an upmarket suburb on the Atlantic Ocean, west of Porto.
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| Cheese Castle dates from 1661 |
History
The fortress is so-called as the rocks it was built on supposedly resemble cheese. The castle was designed by Miguel l'Ecole and completed in 1661.
Inside is a museum (admission charge) dedicated to Portugal's commandos. The exhibits, maps, regimental insignia, weapons and photographs are mainly from the conflicts in Portugal's former colonies in Africa - Angola and Mozambique.
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| Weapons and other exhibits in the castle's small museum |
Access - Getting There
A number of buses run out to the roundabout in front of the castle, Praça Gonçalves Zarco, including numbers #500 and #502.
Castelo do Queijo
Praça de Gonçalves Zarco
4100-274 Porto
Open Tuesday - Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm.
Further up the coast in Matosinhos is another impressive fort, the Forte de Nossa Senhora das Neves de Leça.
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| Cannon on the ramparts |
Museums in Portugal
Museu dos Fósforos (Matchbox Museum)
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| A view of the fort and sea in Foz do Douro |
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| Author J K Rowling took some of her inspiration for Harry Potter from the Majestic Cafe in Porto |
More on Porto
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| The Duke of Wellington |
© Portugal Visitor
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