Batalha is a town near Leiria. It is famous for its 14th century monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand

Batalha monastery

Batalha (buh-TAH-lyuh, /bɐ.ˈta.ʎɐ/) municipality has 15,553 residents (2021 preliminary).

In 1385, the Aljubarrota battle would end the ongoing war for Portugal's crown in favour of Portuguese born Mestre de Avis, soon to be D. João I. In appreciation to the Virgin Mary having answered his prayers, the winner had a monastery erected near the location of the battle. The settlement that was created to support the building of the monastery developed into the current town of Batalha.

Visitor information

• 1 Descobrir Batalha (Discover Batalha), Praça Mouzinho de Albuquerque, ☏ +351 244 765 180. (updated Jun 2021)

Get in

By car

Batalha is served by the A19 motorway (Variante da Batalha) which connects it to A8 (Autoestrada do Oeste) and IC9, as well as with minor roads.

Batalha is along the EN1 road (Estrada Lisboa-Porto), now also designated as IC2.

By bus

Batalha is connected to larger cities by Rede Expressos. The nearest cities, Leiria and Fátima, are connected through Rodoviária do Lis.

Get around

• GiraBatalha, ☏ +351 244 735 735, info@girabatalha.pt. Limited midday city-centre bus service. Single journey: €1, 24-hr ticket: €3. (updated Jun 2021)

See

• 1 Mosteiro da Batalha (Batalha Monastery, Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitória, Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory), Largo Infante Dom Henrique. 16 Oct–31 Mar: 09:00–18:00 (last admission 17:30), 1 Apr–15 Oct 09:00–18:30 (last admission 18:00), closed 1 Jan, Easter, 1 May, 25 Dec. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Medieval Late Flamboyant Gothic and Manueline-style church, built to commemorate the Portuguese victory against Castile (now Spain) in the 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota. It serves as the final resting place of the royal house of Aviz. General admission €6.00, discounts available. (updated Mar 2021)
• 2 Museu da Comunidade Concelhia da Batalha (Museum of Batalha), Largo Goa, Damão e Diu 4, ☏ +351 244 769 878, geral@museubatalha.com. W–Su 10:00–13:00 & 14:00–18:00, closed M Tu. History of the municipality and its people going back 250 million years. Topics include geology and paleontology. General admission: €2.50; ages 7–12, students, seniors, "inclusive": €1.80; age 0–6: free. (updated Mar 2021)
• 3 Grutas da Moeda, Largo das Grutas da Moeda, São Mamede, ☏ +351 244 703 838, info@grutasmoeda.com. 16 Oct–15 Mar: 10:00–17:00, 16 Mar–15 Jul: 10:00–18:00, 16 Jul–15 Sep: 10:00–19:00, 16 Sep–15 Oct: 10:00–18:00. Limestone caverns, 350 m (1,150 ft) long at a depth of 45 m (148 ft). (updated Mar 2021)
• 4 Ponte da Boutaca. A neo-Gothic bridge built in 1862. (updated Mar 2021)

Do

• 1 Euroindy, Estrada de D. Maria I 783, Zona Industrial, ☏ +351 244 769 450, info@euroindy.com. Daily 10:00–13:00 & 14:00–19:00 (1 Sep–15 Jul: closed M). Karting. Offers several models of karts with various horsepower, including mini and junior carts for kids as young as 6. Lessons available. 15 min: €15-30, 30 min: €25-50. (updated Jun 2021)

Buy

The farmers market takes place every Monday morning, 07:00 to 13:00, near the swimming pool.

Eat

• 1 Mosteiro do Leitão, IC2 (N1) 38, Casal da Amieira, ☏ +351 244 767 853. Daily 12:00–15:00 & 19:30–22:00. Featuring roasted suckling pig. Mid-range. (updated Jun 2021)

Sleep

• 1 Casa do Outeiro, Largo Carvalho do Outeiro 4, ☏ +351 244 765 806, geral@hotelcasadoouteiro.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. This three-star, 23 room lodging refers to itself as an "arts and crafts hotel". The property features two swimming pools, free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, and free parking. Some rooms offer views of the monastery. €44-81. (updated Jun 2021)

Go next

• Fátima (Sanctuary of Our Lady) – Place of the worldwide famous Marian apparitions.
• Alcobaça (Monastery)
• Tomar (Castle and the Convent of Christ)
• Nazaré (Beach of the Guinness Book Records big waves surfed)