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

Understand

Batalha monastery

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.

It was home to about 16,000 people in 2011.

Get in

By bus

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

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). 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, ☏ +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)
• Ponte da Boutaca

Do

• Karting

Buy

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

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)