Mountain Bike Tour in Historical Villages - North Loop

Soito - Almeida (68 km / 1155 m D+)
Today's ride will take you to 2 idyllic Historic Villages:
CASTELO MENDO: This predominantly medieval village is divided into two walled sections, the Citadel and Barbican. The oval citadel is the old town, which grew after a charter from King Sancho II. The new town, or Arrabalde de S. Pedro, is protected by a Dionysian wall that once boasted eight towers. They were partially destroyed by the 1755 earthquake. It still has its five gates, however (Vila, Guarda, Sol, Traição and D. Sancho gates). Castelo Mendo's charter granted and regulated the first free fair in Portugal. It was held three times a year, at Easter, the feast of St. John the Baptist and the feast of St. Michael, and lasted for eight days.
ALMEIDA: Because of the need to modernize its outdated medieval structures after the Restoration (1641), Almeida set about building a new war infrastructure that was suited to the new artillery and would enable it to control the border. The stronghold is hexagonal and consists of six bulwarks, each with its ravelin. The town within the walls still has a substantial number of military buildings and very interesting civil architecture.
Overnight in Almeida.

Almeida - Juizo (62 km / 1084 m D+)
The first stop of today will be the Historical Village of Castelo Rodrigo. As a whole, it is a genuine location of monuments preserving important medieval references. The most valuable features of its historical heritage are the old walls, the ruins of Cristóvão de Moura Palace, the 16th-century pillory, the medieval church, the parish church, the medieval cistern, and the inscriptions attesting to the existence of a substantial new-Christian community.
Leaving Castelo Rodrigo behind, you will descend to the Côa River, passing by the Faia Brava Park where the key natural values are rupicolous birds, cork oaks, holm oaks, riparian habitats, and temporary Mediterranean ponds.
After crossing the river to the other side, you will have the last climb of the day.
Overnight in Juízo.

Juizo - Trancoso (40 km / 1000 m D+)
Leave behind Juízo village towards the Historical Village of Marialva, situated on a rocky mountain at an altitude of 580m. Marialva was already occupied before the Roman ruling. 
Your final destination will be the Historical Village of Trancoso, a town whose narrow streets and stone houses preserve the medieval atmosphere. The plateau on which it is situated, at an altitude of 870 meters, gave it a strategic position in the defence of the frontier with Spain and made it an important fortress during the Middle Ages. 
Time to explore the labyrinth of stone streets that lead to the town centre and the Pillory, where the Old Town and New Town meet.
Overnight in Trancoso. 

Trancoso - Linhares da Beira (44 km / 763 m D+)
After leaving Trancoso behind, you will have a long descent through a beautiful valley, until the Mondego River. After crossing the river, you will have to go up to the next Historical Village.
Linhares da Beira is a 12th-century medieval village boasting unequalled architectural and artistic diversity, as a legacy from different ages. It received its first charter from King Afonso Henriques in 1169. It was only later, in the reign of King Dinis, that its imposing castle was built - the village's masterpiece and main attraction today. Wandering around the streets of this museum village is like travelling back in time to its history, all while feeling the breeze from the Mondego Valley brushing your face.
Overnight in Linhares da Beira.

Linhares da Beira - Belmonte (67 km / 1700 m D+)
The journey of today will take you to Vale do Rossim, a breathtaking place where it's possible to refresh yourself. Leaving the Rossim Valley, the route passes through the Meteorological Observatory and goes down a dirt track until it begins a technical descent, partially by a sidewalk to the village of Manteigas. 
Manteigas is a town located next to the magnificent Valley of the River Zêzere, with high peaks and forest-covered slopes. It’s the genuine "mountain village". In Moorish times, an agreement was made affecting the thermal waters of the spa at Caldas de Manteigas. The village is also home to the headquarters of the Natural Park of Serra da Estrela. 
Leave Manteigas behind and move towards your final destination, the Historical Village of Belmonte. The town of Belmonte in Cova da Beira commands a broad view of the eastern slopes of the Serra da Estrela mountains and fully justifies its name. Tradition has it that the name Belmonte comes from its location (beautiful hill). Some say, however, that it comes from 'belli monte', the hill of war. A sunny place, with good people, endless vistas, and centuries-old history.
Overnight in Belmonte.