Babacashee
A small border town with a hard past
Campo Maior is a small border town in Portugal's Alentejo. It has Roman and Moorish roots and became Portuguese in 1297. Its history was rough. In 1732 lightning hit the gunpowder magazine at the castle. The explosion destroyed much of the town and killed hundreds of people. You will see that date again at the bone chapel later on the walk.
The town is probably best known for its festival, when whole streets are covered in handmade paper flowers. We tried to visit during it once. The crowds were huge, and we would not pick that time to explore with a dog. On a normal day the town feels charming and everyday, with narrow streets, whitewashed houses and colourful details.
Jardim Municipal to Praça da República
We started our walk at the Jardim Municipal, next to the statue of a saint who was born here and later founded the Order of the Immaculate Conception. From there we walked through the old streets to Praça da República and its marble pelourinho from 1740.
Igreja Matriz and Capela dos Ossos
Next we visited the Igreja Matriz and the tiny Capela dos Ossos, the bone chapel. It was built after the 1732 explosion. Come for the history and the bone chapel.
Past the monastery and up to the castle
We passed the Mosteiro da Imaculada Conceição and walked uphill through narrow streets to the Castelo de Campo Maior. If you are travelling with a dog, lower your expectations here. There are very few green spaces and not much for a dog to explore.
On the way up we met a little army of loose, poorly supervised dogs. At first we were annoyed with them. On the way back we saw them all squeezed under one parked car, trying to get out of the sun. After that we were mostly annoyed with whoever was responsible for them. Honestly, it spoiled Campo Maior for us a bit.
Our bottom line
Campo Maior is worth a short stop if you are already exploring the region. With a dog, we would plan a dog-friendly outing afterwards, like a trip to Barragem do Caia. For birders, the wider Campo Maior and Caia area is excellent birding country. We saw a booted eagle again, and of course we didn't have the camera with us.
Good to know
- We wouldn't choose the paper-flower festival for exploring with a dog. The crowds are massive.
- We met loose, unsupervised dogs on the walk up to the castle.
- The town has few green spaces, so plan a dog-friendly outing afterwards.
Campo Maior with a dog: questions
Is Campo Maior a good town to walk a dog?
Not really. We found Campo Maior not very paw-friendly, with no nice walking opportunities in the town. There are very few green spaces, and not much for a dog to explore.
Are there loose dogs near the castle in Campo Maior?
Yes, on the day we visited. On our way up to the Castelo de Campo Maior, we met a group of loose, poorly supervised dogs. On the way back we saw them all crammed under a parked car, trying to get out of the sun.
Should I visit Campo Maior with a dog during the paper flower festival?
We wouldn't. We tried once during the festival, when whole streets in Campo Maior are covered in handmade paper flowers. The crowds were huge, so it's not when we would choose to explore the town with a dog.
How much time should we plan for Campo Maior with a dog?
We would treat Campo Maior as a very short stop, not a full-day destination. If you have your dog with you, we'd add a dog-friendly trip afterwards.