Valença (Valença do Minho) is a fortress town on the south bank of the Minho River.
Valença’s hilltop position offered excellent defensive qualities overlooking the Minho River to protect the country from invasion form its neighbour’s Spain and France. The defences of the town where originally developed during the 13th century.
The town’s walls and moats which can be seen today date from the 17th and 18 centuries and largely intact. They clearly illustrate how the town was able to hold out in several sieges by Spanish and French forces.
The Minho River marks the boarder with Spain for much of its 340km (210 miles) length.
Valença
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