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Through the case of Montemor-o-Novo, a municipality of the rural interior of southern Portugal, we aim to contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon of emigration to Switzerland, Germany and France that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. We identify the causes and obstacles to the departure of young adults, situating them within the economic and political reality of the Alentejo region and the country as a whole. We explore the immigration destinations of Portuguese people to the light of the various migration policies of these countries. Additionally, we analyse the challenges faced by immigrants in the host countries and how they overcame them, as well as the type of work in which they engaged. We outline the motivations for returning to Portugal and the reasons for the ongoing connection they maintain with their country of immigration. Finally, we endeavour to assess the socio-economic impact of emigration on national life and to contextualize the national migratory phenomenon within the broader European socio-economic landscape.