highest point of the mountain consists of the a large rocky hilltop, where the medieval castle overlooks the town of Póvoa de Lanhoso. The location is situated over a small fertile valley that is well irrigated, crossed by the Ribeira da Póvoa, Ribeira Pereira and Ribeira de Pregal, that are tributaries of the Ave watershed. Half way on the flank, on the road accessway are vestiges of a Romanized settlement of pre- to proto-historic nature. At the top of the mount, within the walls of the castle is the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Pilar, with a winding "Via Sacra" that extends from the foot of the hill, punctuated by five chapels and a support building for pilgrims with restaurant. The castle is situated on the extreme west of the mount, encircled by a wall, with two visible corbels, along the extreme opposite side and north, forming an elliptical barbican. The fortification is an irregular plan with a rectangular keep tower in the east. The walls, surmounted by merlons, is broken in the south alongside the keep tower, with arched gate, flanked by two towers and with a staircase carved into the rock. The keep tower, surmounted by merlons, is high and is accessible by an arched doorway above the ground. The line of walls circle the terrain within which is the alcalde's citadel and a large cistern. The vestiges of the old citadel include its foundations and towers at the angles and part of an accessway, that allude to the pre-Roman relief. Internally, the rectangular space includes two lines of pillars. References Notes Sources Lanhoso Lanhoso Buildings and structures in Póvoa de Lanhoso National monuments in Braga District