Festivities in Honour of St. Eufémia

The Festivities in Honour of Saint Euphemia, in Soutelo, celebrate the patron saint with festivities that, according to local tradition, date back to the 15th century. The origin of the festival is linked to the veneration of Saint Euphemia, whose devotion is an ancient and deep-rooted tradition in this region of Castro Daire. The celebration takes place in September and maintains a strong religious character, with a traditional Pilgrimage Festival, a procession and an open-air mass. Alongside the ceremonies, there is music, dance and traditional food, which bring the community together around their saint.

The Festivities in Honour of Saint Eufémia take place in Soutelo, in the parish of Castro Daire, heart of Beira Alta, in the district of Viseu. It is a land of deep roots, planted in the shadow of an ancient hillfort, shaped by the cold of the mountains and the generosity of the valleys. Here the mountain folk proudly preserve the heritage of rural life, the devotion that fills their churches and chapels, and a generous table where roast kid, Arouquesa beef and local wines reign supreme. Castro Daire is one of those places that calls you back and stays in your heart long after you have left.