Pousada Castelo de Estremoz – Historic Hotel

We really enjoyed our stay at the Pousada Castelo Estremoz. It’s in the old town of Estremoz on a hilltop: you drive through an arch and over a drawbridge, up cobbled streets to a square where there’s free parking. The hotel certainly has a wow factor: it’s like stopping in a museum with many historical items and paintings set in grand rooms. Our room was actually quite small and the bathroom tight but had everything you needed although getting things like extra drinking water was not so easy. We ate in the restaurant - nice food and certainly grand if not a little formal for us. Breakfast was quite simply amazing - so much choice and all really good quality. I loved our stay - the odd quirks of staying in a historic building are massively outweighed by the amazing experience and I would highly recommend the hotel.

This is a fabulous hotel with great staff in a fabulous town. We were very fortunate here to be upgraded from a classic to a superior room and had a fantastic view over the town from our upgraded room. We loved the character of the hotel, the public areas and the rooms and the views are stunning, both from the public rooms and from the castle tower which you can climb. It’s an easy walk into town and around the main sights and the hotel is a very comfortable place to relax in once you’re done for the day. Breakfast was excellent as were all the hotel staff we encountered. We extended our stay here by a day as there is a lot to see in town and the surrounding villages. A great place to stay.

The converted royal palace dating back to the 14th century exudes an air of peace and calm. The building is arcitechturally wonderful with high ceilings supported on massive stone pillars. Service in the bar and dining room was impeccable. Our dinners, cooked in a rustic local style, were equally good, as was the wide ranging buffet breakfast. So, why haven't I given this hotel an excellent rating? We booked a Superior room. Yes, it had twin four poster beds, but only one small table for the every day bits and pieces, just one chair and the bathroom, while fulfilling all needs, was cramped. It is a minor criticism, however, and we enjoyed our stay in the hotel and our potter around the town on market day: never has so much tat been available.

Approaching Estremoz, we could see the hilltop castle overlooking town. We joked that it was our hotel, which of course it was. The opulent Pousada Castelo Estremoz is in a 13th century castle, and our schmancy room has a great view, and peculiar painting. I had fun poking around taking photos before we headed out to a long late lunch at A Cadeia Quinhentista in a 16th century medieval jail. Laurence tried a traditional sausage fritter dish, and I had a big pot of huge mussels. The couple serving us were so nice and fun and tried to teach us some Portuguese. There is a lot of slurring involved. Maybe an extra glass of wine would help. We went for a walk around town, which was pretty dead. Maybe because it’s Sunday and siesta time. Perfect for taking pictures. Estremoz is a larger town with a population of 7500, and well known for marble. We can see a huge quarry from our room, and our bathroom is different colors of marble. Even the sidewalks are made of marble chunks. After our enormous lunch, we wanted an easy dinner at 9pm. We chose a family run pizza place, had a big pizza, and a salad combination of tuna, egg and potato, plus water and a half liter of wine for €22. Miguel told us that he learned English in school from grade one to ten, but it was British. He learned the American dialect by playing video games and watching TV series. I learned how to properly order a crucial phrase of a half liter of white wine, which was €4.50. You can’t not afford to drink at that price. We are not big breakfast people, but when it is served in a castle, and included in the room rate, you make the effort to get there by 10am closing. It was the best breakfast we’ve had on our trip. The entrance to the castelo tower is in our hotel courtyard, and you can climb up the top for some nice views. I always look for a bird’s eye view in new towns to figure out the lay of land. There are holes in the upper walkway used to pour boiling oil on invaders. We enjoyed an incredible dinner in our castle dining room, with superb service and beautifully presented delicious courses.

The hotel is truly impressive. The rooms are very comfortable and beautifully designed. The food, both at breakfast and in the restaurant, is excellent. The staff is incredibly attentive and professional. I would definitely stay here again.