Stone Circle of Almendres Cromeleque dos Almendres

The countryside around Évora is rich in examples of megalithic culture. Particulary impressive is the stone circle of Almendres (Cromeleque dos Almendres), on the N 114 from Évora. In the town of Sao Matias (about 8km/5mi west of Évora) turn off towards Guadalupe. The Cromeleque dos Almendres consists of 92 upright stones forming an oval 60m/200ft long and 30m/100ft across. The stones are colored red and are marked with symbolic signs. Assumed to have been used for cult purposes, the site is dated somewhere between 4000 and 2000 B.C.