Batalha is a peaceful town around 120km north of Lisbon with one very big surprise. The name of the town – Batalha – literally means battle and was the stage for one of the most important battles in Portuguese history. In 1385, Batalha de Aljubarrota secured Portuguese independence from Castile. To honour that victory, King João I constructed one of the finest monasteries in Portugal, Mosteiro da Batalha.
This grand monastery was the Portuguese Monarchy’s main building project for over two centuries. Representing the architectural transition from Gothic to Manueline, and although never finished, would influence Portuguese architecture for generations. Batalha might only be a small town, but it packs a strong historical punch. Anyone interested in history or architecture should place this town and its UNESCO heritage site high on your list of places to visit while in Portugal!
Top Things to See and Do in Batalha
The town of Batalha is dominated by the monastery. So no surprises its many features make the list of top things to see and do. However, the small streets surrounding the monastery ooze small town charm, and you’ll even find a few other historical curiosities. Following your visit to the monastery we do recommend you take a wonder through the streets and find somewhere for a coffee!
If you’re interested in finding out more about the battle and the history of the area that make sure to stop at the interpretation centre (Fundação Batalha de Aljubarrota). It’s located around a 5-minute drive outside the town and well worth a stop!
The Mosteiro da Batalha (Batalha Monastery)
The Mosteiro da Batalha is one of the finest religious buildings of Portugal and recognised as a place of World Heritage by UNESCO. The local legend states that on the eve of the battle, King João prayed to the Virgin Mary. Asking for her assistance and vowing to build a monumental monastery should the Portuguese be victorious. Three years later, the king would return to Batalha and begin building the grand monastery in 1388. It would become a multi-century project taking over 150 years across multiple phases of construction.
For that reason, you’ll find an array of features in not only Gothic style, but also Manueline and some Renaissance touches. Multiple alterations were made to the initial project. Resulting in a vast monastic complex that today includes a church, two cloisters, two royal pantheons – the Founder’s Chapel, and the Unfinished Chapels. For anyone interested in Portuguese history, Mosteiro da Batalha is an essential destination.
The Main Church and Interior
The monastery complex is split into several different areas. Some of which some are public access and some are paid access. The main church: its nave, its impressive portal, and slightly smaller south portal are free to access to anyone. Today it still operates as a functioning church so depending on the timing of your visit you may see church services.
Igreja de Santa Maria da Vitória to give the church its full name in Portuguese is one of the most impressive churches in Portugal. At around 80m long, and 30m high, its columns and vaulted ceilings really impart the sheer size and scale of the monument. Also reflecting the ambition of King João I. Even if you’re not interested in religious heritage, the scale of the church is impressive. The church itself is organised into three naves, a central taller and wider nave, straddled by two narrower naves. Between them grand arches and stained-glass windows.
The next sections will require you to purchase a ticket that currently costs €6 for an adult, but several concessions are available for children, students and seniors. To really explore the site, we do recommend you purchase this ticket!
Founder’s Chapel (Capela do Fundador)
To the right of the main entrance is the Founder’s Chapel. A place that from its conception was intended to be a Royal pantheon, a place for João I’s family to be laid to rest surrounded by grandeur.
At the centre of chapel, lies the tomb of King D. João I and Queen D. Filipa de Lencastre. On the lid of what is the largest 15th century gothic sarcophagus in Portugal is a sculpture of the royal couple at rest holding hands. Above them, an intricate star shaped vault surrounded by stained glass windows. If the sheer size and scale of the tomb wasn’t enough, the intricate details of each individual tomb and surroundings of the chapel should impress. Surrounding the central tomb, are the inset tombs, of the “illustrious generation” as the poet Camões referred to them.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Túmulo do Soldado Desconhecido)
In 1921, the monastery would be given a renewed impetus as a place of reflection not just for the monarchy, but also for Portugal’s Military. Becoming the place of rest for two unknown soldiers from the First World War. One from the battlefield of Flanders, and another from Africa. They were interned on the 6th April 1921 in the Chapter House. A Guard of Honour keeps watch, and the ‘Flame of the Mother Country’ is kept lit.
In the courtyard of the monastery you’ll find an olive tree which provides the olives, and oil which keeps the flame burning. Silence and respect is expected, and you’ll find the sound of soldiers boots echoing along the corridor during the changing of the guard quite remarkable.
Capelas Imperfeitas (Imperfect Chapel, Flawed Chapel)
The Capelas Imperfeitas, often translated to either the imperfect, flawed, or unfinished chapels are a separate section of the complex accessible from its northern face. You’ll still need your ticket to enter. The construction of the chapels began in 1434 under King Duarte I, but suffered from the same stop/start fate as the rest of the complex. Both the Master Builder and Duarte I would pass away several years later, leaving the unfinished chapel to King Manuel.
King Manuel would impart many of the Manueline features including the incredibly detailed portal, and the 7 funeral chapels that surround the octagonal space. In 1533, Renaissance features were added in the form of a large balcony by King João III. The twin tomb of King Duarte and Queen Leonor would only be added to the pantheon in 1940.
The details and full history of the Monastery of Batalha could easily fill multiple posts, so for now we’ll move on to elsewhere in Batalha.
The Centro de Interpretação da Batalha de Aljubarrota museum
The Centro de Interpretação da Batalha de Aljubarrota (CIBA) is a museum and exhibition centre constructed on the historical battle site of Aljubarrota. CIBA describes itself as edutainment aiming to both educate and entertain visitors and all topics covering the famous battle. There’s three parts or exhibitions, the first covering the Architectural heritage of the battle.
The second, focusing on setting the scene, timeline and history of the battle, and the movements of the day. Of note are the displays of skeletons and weaponry found during the archaeological surveys of the site. The final part of the exhibition is a movie – A Batalha Real. Shown in the auditorium of the site, which combines documentary, and re-enactment with story telling elements.
The interpretation centre is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 5:30 pm. Tickets cost €7 for an adult, with discounts available for young and old! The CIBA museum is 3km south of Batalha, if you do not have a rental car a taxi is around €6 each way.
Casa da Padeira de Aljubarrota (The Baker of Aljuborrota)
A unique story, and perhaps one of our favourite examples of Azulejo tiles is a further 7km outside of Batalha. Here you’ll find a building named Casa da Padeira de Aljubarrota and a statue. The statue of a woman with what looks like a spade held in the air. Located on the walls of the building behind the statue will give you the details of the Baker of Aljubarrota, a local legend.
This legend states that a local baker named Brites de Almeida, after returning from giving aid at the battlefield found seven Spanish soldiers hiding in her bread oven. The seven soldiers refused to leave and surrender. The quick-thinking baker then lit a fire with hay to smoke them out of the oven, before giving each one a death blow from her iron bakers shovel. The baker is now honoured as a local and Portuguese heroine. To this day, there are rumours that the town hall in Alcobaça keeps the bakers shovel in storage! It’s unique but probably only worth stopping if you have a car or alternative method of visiting.
How Long Should you Spend in Batalha?
Batalha is a small but very likable town. However the main thing to see and do is of course the monastery. Combining the monastery, with the town, and perhaps some local food will occupy an easy half day, or even a few hours if you just want to see the main site. Other than Mosteiro da Batalha, the site of the battlefield, and the interpretation centre, there is not much else to see and do. Of course many people choose to skip the interpretation centre and only focus on the monastic complex.
It can make a short day trip, or combined with one of the nearby towns of Alcobaça, Fátima, Óbidos or even one of the coastal towns like Peniche or Nazaré to make a full day trip of sightseeing. Combining it with one of the historical towns keeps the theme of the day going, but combining it with Nazaré or Peniche means you can cover both the historical side of Portugal and some of its incredible coastline in the same day.
Should you Spend the night in Batalha?
Unique to Batalha is the continual arrival of day trippers and tourers that stay for a couple of hours before leaving again. After these types of tourists leave, the town becomes much much more peaceful and opens itself as a slower paced destination. There are quite a few restaurants covering both local and international cuisine so it’s easy to find a good meal too! It’s a great place to base yourself if you’re planning on sticking around the central region and want to explore a few of the towns and places mentioned above as a day trip. Batalha has several great hotels and being further away from the coast and resort towns, the accommodation tends to cost significantly less.
Why was the battle of Aljubarrota so Important?
The battle of Aljubarrota resulted in a decisive victory for Portugal against the Castilians, ruling out any Castilian ambitions for the Portuguese throne. It established João I as the king of Portugal from 1385 to 1433. If the Castilians had defeated the army of King João, Portugal would likely have been absorbed into Spain. However, The Portuguese and their allies won, establishing a new Portuguese dynasty – the House of Aviz.
English aid to the battle, in the form of long-bowman veterans from France, also reinforced the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373. Which would become the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance. Today recognised as the oldest political alliance in world history. The battle was remarkable due to the numbers and the shocking defeat, around 6,000 men under the Portuguese command, and 31,000 men under the Castilian command. You’ll find a monument to Nuno Álvares Pereira, the brilliant tactician who led Portugal and its allies to victory outside Batalha Monastery.
How to Get to Batalha?
From Lisbon to Batalha the bus services are operated by Rede Expressos, who are one of the biggest intercity transport companies in Portugal. Currently there are only a few daily services from Lisbon to Batalha and it costs €12 each way, or €11.40 each way if you book the return ticket at the same time. Attempting a day trip will be tight but possible, the first bus departs Lisbon at 12:00 and arrives in Batalha at 14:00. The last bus departs Batalha at 18:15 and arrives in Lisbon at 20:15. Alternatively, there is a departure at 08:15 in the morning should you want to consider an overnight trip. As always, we recommend checking the exact time tables before organising your trip!
For people already exploring the Centro region of Portugal, there are local bus services between most of the towns like Batalha, Fatima, Alcobaça, Nazaré and Tomar operated by the local operator by Rodotejo.
Organised Tours to Batalha
With its UNESCO World heritage site, Batalha is a very popular place to take a day trip or organised tour. Although it’s rare to find a tour that specifically only goes to Batalha, you’ll find several that combine Batalha with nearby destinations like Óbidos, Nazaré, Fatima, and Alcobaça. We did mention this part of Portugal was packed with amazing places to visit didn’t we? Most of these are large group tours – coach trips that will start in Lisbon and bring you back in the same day, but if you’re willing to up your budget you’ll find private options as well!
Here’s our pick of our favourite and best reviewed tours:
- From Lisbon: Fátima, Batalha, Nazaré & Óbidos Full-Day Tour (€80 per person)
- Lisbon: Private Guided Tour of Tomar, Batalha, and Alcobaça (€100 per person)
- Fatima, Batalha, Nazare, Obidos Private Full Day Tour (€319.90 for two)
Where to Stay in Batalha?
Batalha is definitely less of an out and out tourist destination then nearby resort towns, however it still has several fantastic options for overnight stays, and longer stays if you’re interested in using Batalha as a base! Our personal favourite is Hotel Vila Batalha. A wonderful hotel just a short walk from the main sites in Batalha. It’s pool and spa were a fantastic place to unwind after a few busy days exploring central Portugal! You can take a look at the full range of options with this list here!
Should you Visit Batalha?
Batalha is a great town to visit, or even base yourself in to explore the slower paced inland Central Portugal. Surrounded by authentic sites, and some great local food, Batalha makes a good day trip, or a great stopping point for longer trips. If you want to fully absorb yourself in Portuguese history and historical sites, then combining Batalha with nearby Tomar, or Alcobaca, is also a great option!
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I am looking for a former hunting lodge used by the British elites turned to a hotel it was in a heavily wooded area just out of Batalha
Sounds like you could be thinking of Bussaco Palace. It was a former convent, turned into a Palace by Portuguese Royalty. Then used as a rural hunting lodge by the royal family and guests. I’m not aware of a connection to British elites though. Do let us know if you find out!