Museu da Cultura Castreja
Museum in the Solar da Ponte, in Briteiros, linked to the Citânia de Briteiros, which recalls the life of the archaeologist Martins Sarmento and shows Castro culture finds and the Pedra Formosa.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Solar da Ponte (Ponte manor house) is a former farmhouse in Briteiros, built at the end of the 18th century, which belonged to the family of the archaeologist Francisco Martins Sarmento (1833–1899). Sarmento used it as a country house and stayed there during the excavations at the Citânia de Briteiros and the Castro de Sabroso. Friends such as Camilo Castelo Branco, and European researchers who visited the Citânia in 1880, were received at the manor house.
After Sarmento's death, the house was donated to the Sociedade Martins Sarmento (Martins Sarmento Society) and ceased to be a dwelling. In the first half of the 20th century a primary school operated there, and the building deteriorated until only the main granite walls remained. In 2003 a full restoration was possible and the Museu da Cultura Castreja (Museum of Castro Culture) was installed, as a thematic extension of the Museu Martins Sarmento.
On the upper floor, the exhibition recalls the life and work of Sarmento, with furniture from his library, his wife's piano, cameras, field notebooks and books from his library. Another section shows materials collected at the Citânia de Briteiros and the Castro de Sabroso: decorated elements of dwellings, stone sculptures, Iron Age and Roman-period pottery, and everyday metal objects. The Pedra Formosa (Beautiful Stone) of the Citânia is the museum's most notable piece.
Highlights
- Pedra Formosa from the Citânia de Briteiros, the main piece
- Writing desk, piano and personal objects of Martins Sarmento
- Cameras and field notebooks of the archaeologist
- Iron Age and Roman-period pottery and sculptures
- 18th-century manor house restored in 2003
Permanent exhibitions
- Francisco Martins Sarmento – Exhibition on the upper floor about the life and work of the archaeologist, with furniture from his library, cameras, field notebooks and his own works.
- Cultura castreja: Citânia de Briteiros e Castro de Sabroso – Archaeological materials from the two sites, including decorated house elements, stone sculptures, pottery and metal objects, and the Pedra Formosa.
- Founded
- 2003
- Operated by
- Sociedade Martins Sarmento
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.50School visits, people over 65, young people up to 18, students up to 25 and Cartão Jovem holders |
| Children & teens | €2.50free up to age 6 · Free admission for children up to 6; up to 18, half-price ticket. |
| Seniors | €2.50Over-65s. |
| Students & apprentices | €2.50Students up to 25. |
| Groups | –Guided visits: €25, by booking. |
| Combined ticket (Museu Arqueológico da Sociedade Martins Sarmento, Museu da Cultura Castreja and Citânia de Briteiros) | €7 |
| Guided visit (by booking) | €25 |
Free admission: Residents of Portugal on Sundays, 10:00 to 12:30
The standard €5 ticket also gives entry to the Citânia de Briteiros. Free admission also for veterans, ICOMOS card holders and guides accredited by the Sociedade Martins Sarmento.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided visits and information by telephone on +351 253 478 952 or by e-mail. |
