Developed from the villages of Peso and Régua in the 18th century, Peso da Régua
is the major hub for rail and road connections in the region.

In 1756, Régua, as the town is invariably called, was chosen by the Marquês de
Pombal as the centre of the demarcated region for port production. From here,
rabelos , the traditional wooden sailing ships, transported
the barrels of port through hazardous gorges to Vila Nova de Gaia. They
continued to ply the river even after the advent of the Douro railway in the
1880s offered a faster and safer means of transport. Régua suffered frequently
in the past from severe floods, and these are still a threat, although they have
lessened since dams were built across the Douro in the 1970s and 1980s.

Visitors to Régua usually pause only briefly on their way to explore the“port
country”, but it is worth seeking out the Casa do Douro , the
administrative headquarters of the Port Wine Institute. Its modern stained-glass
windows, created by Lino António, vividly depict the history and production of
port. Also displayed is a fine map of the Douro valley drawn in the mid-19th
century by Baron Forrester.