The TRIURBIR association, founded in 1997, aims to promote the economic development and dynamization of the four member municipalities by leveraging European Union cross-border cooperation programs.
The municipality of Castelo Branco communicated that the project, valued at around three million euros, will streamline the management of religious and spiritual heritage in border territories and involve restoration efforts.
Apart from the four TRIURBIR cities, the Cross-border Network of Spiritual Municipalities (CULMET) includes three associated dioceses: Cória-Cáceres, Plasencia, and Portalegre-Castelo Branco.
In the recent TRIURBIR meeting, the four member cities reviewed this project and its application for European funding.
CULMET seeks to enhance the role of culture and tourism as engines of economic development to foster social inclusion and innovation.
Within this project, a pilgrim reception center is planned in Castelo Branco, while Portalegre will see the restoration of the cultural space Quinta da Saúde.
In Cáceres, the Hermitage of São Vito will be refurbished, and Plasencia will undertake the sustainable regeneration of the Jewish cemetery as a tourism resource.
In its latest executive council meeting, the trans-border association, now presided over by the Spanish city of Cáceres, approved a 350,000-euro budget for joint activities across the four cities.
This budget aims to increase the visibility of the four cities through a plan of actions covering various areas like tourism, sports, gastronomy, nature, and religion.
Cáceres succeeded Plasencia in the presidency of TRIURBIR, with plans for two business events: one in autumn 2025 in Castelo Branco and another in spring 2026 in Cáceres.
These events aim to strengthen ties and create dynamics among entrepreneurs, as well as expand business opportunities on both sides of the border.
Additionally, it was agreed that the association will continue emphasizing to the Portuguese government the importance of constructing the IC31 as a highway, connecting Spanish Extremadura to Portugal (Monfortinho), improving travel, tourism, and business prospects.
TRIURBIR members also signed a manifesto supporting Cáceres’s bid to be named the European Capital of Culture in 2031.
TRIURBIR was initially founded by the Spanish cities of Cáceres and Plasencia and the Portuguese city of Castelo Branco.
A decade later, the city of Portalegre requested membership and joined in 2007.
The presidency of this entity rotates among the participating cities, which united to socially, culturally, and economically invigorate these territories through cross-border development programs.
