Castro Daire is a pretty town set high up on the main road between Viseu and Lamego.
Exuding a peaceful, secluded charm, it has been occupied since Neolithic times, with dolmens and standing stones a regular feature in the area. The Romans used this site as a garrison and built an important bridge here, the Ponte Pedrinha, over the River Paiva. A recently discovered stone says the bridge was built during the governorship of Caius Julius Caesar. What to see. Lined by some fine old houses, the attractive main square is the central focus for people visiting the town. The Castro Daire Municipal Museum has regular art exhibitions and an impressive ethnographical collection from all over the region. Nearby. Located in the nearby village of Soutelo, the recently-restored 13th century chapel of Santa Eufémia houses four rare 17th century paintings of the life of Jesus Christ. Nestling conveniently on the edge of town, the spa centre of Carvalhal (open from spring until autumn) specialises in respiratory treatment, skin diseases and digestive problems.
