Reguengos de Monsaraz

Reguengos de Monsaraz is a municipality of almost 11,000 people (2011) in Alto Alentejo on the right bank of the Guadiana River in the Portuguese Alentejo region, near its border with Spain. It includes the town of Monsaraz, which has under 800 residents.

Understand


Reguengos de Monsaraz (/ʁɨˈɣẽɡuʒ ðɨ mõsɐˈɾaʃ/, rrih-GEHN-goozh thih mohn-suh-RAHZH) is one of the oldest Portuguese settlements of the southern Portugal, occupied since prehistory. Examples of permanent habitation include hundreds of megalithic monuments. These include the neolithic remains of: Megalithic Monuments of Herdade de Xerez, Olival da Pega Dolmens, Menhir of Bulhoa, Rocha dos Namorados Menhir and Outeiro Menhir. The hill, on which the main settlement is located, was a prehistoric fortification, or castro, that was the basis of pre-Roman occupation and funerary temples, carved from the local rock.

The name Monsaraz originates from the word Xarez or Xerez, the Iberian transliteration of the Arabic Saris or Sharish, for the Gum Rockrose (Cistus ladanifer L.), a plant that still today prospers in poor, dry, acidic slate-based soil that surrounds Monsaraz. The Iberian words Xarez/Xerez latter evolved to the Portuguese Xaraz and to the Spanish (Castilian) Jerez (the Spanish name for the sherry wine). The settlement therefore came to be known as Monsaraz, originating from Monte Xaraz, i.e., fortified hill surrounded by Gum Rockroses. Its naturally prominent position, being the highest hill in the area as well as its proximity to the deep Guadiana valley, made it a location of strategic importance.

Get in
Rede Expressos provides bus service from places such as Lisbon and Évora.

Rodoviária do Alentejo offers bus service from Évora and other regional cities.

See

 * Watchtower of São Gens do Xarez (Atalaia de São Gens/Torre de São Gens do Xarez), a simple, square watchtower oriented to the cardinal points, but in a state of ruin, making reconstitution difficult, likely built in 1646 to guard the Guadiana River.
 * Chapel of São Bento (Capela de São Bento/Ermida de São Bento), a rural chapel constructed at the end of the 16th century-beginning of the 17th century, through contributions of many of the local residents of Arrabalde da Vila, that includes frescos in a vaulted ceiling. After the 1755 Lisbon earthquake the building was left seriously damaged.