Leiria Portugal to Marseille France route suggestions?

[Dralberto]

Greetings Fellow Thorn Tree-ers,
I have two weeks to travel this route and ask the community for advice and suggestions of not-to-be missed rarities and sights!
I speak good French, poor Spanish, and no Portuguese. I am backpacking and using local transport, and prefer getting off the beaten path, enjoying local food and drink. Castles, Roman ruins, local myths, medieval armor, Romanesque church crypts, and sublime cheese attract me.
Thank you in advance for any suggestions!
Sincerely, Dralberto

 

[armchairtraveler]

There's actually a "cheese route" by the tourism board that might give you some leads: https://www.rotaqueijoscentrodeportugal.com/roteiros/

You could also browse the Historical Villages of Portugal https://danielasantosaraujo.com/historical-villages-of-portugal/. Tomar might be of interest.

Conimbriga for the Roman site, Evora for its bone chapel (lots of tourists, though) and standing stones (cromlech). Castro de Monte Mozinho for a Celtic site (among others). How you would do much of this without a car, I don't know.

 

[Dralberto]

There's actually a "cheese route" by the tourism board that might give you some leads: https://www.rotaqueijoscentrodeportugal.com/roteiros/

You could also browse the Historical Villages of Portugal https://danielasantosaraujo.com/historical-villages-of-portugal/. Tomar might be of interest.

Conimbriga for the Roman site, Evora for its bone chapel (lots of tourists, though) and standing stones (cromlech). Castro de Monte Mozinho for a Celtic site (among others). How you would do much of this without a car, I don't know.

Spot on advice armchairtraveler! Thanks for the suggestions!