Mountain villages
They are, without a doubt, the stage for a privileged encounter with natural wonders and with the populations that maintain, even today, the same old traditions.
Welcome to the villages surrounded by valleys, where mountain men and women overcame obstacles to survive, took advantage of the land and wrapped themselves in wool coats taken from the cattle they pastured there, ate sausages and the famous Serra cheese, which still attract so many visitors to the place.
Villages in the municipalities of Seia, Manteigas, Covilhã, Fundão, Fornos de Algodres, Gouveia, Guarda, Celorico da Beira and Oliveira de Hospital came together to form a Network of Mountain Villages covering more than 100 km and constitute a group of 41 villages.
When visiting these villages, get ready to emerge in a world apart with much to do and live. Relax, take a deep breath, and enter a world of genuine customs and traditions where everything is simpler.
Mountain villages are an excellent choice for those looking for a trip with adventure and a lot of physical activity.
Explore these villages and the almost untouched nature that surrounds them through one of the numerous walking routes. You will find 14 small routes and one large route, with different degrees of difficulty, covering a vast territory located on the southwest slope of Serra da Estrela. For example, we refer to the
ROUTE DOS MEANDROS - (PR 1 SEI) which runs through a valley with scattered settlements, wedged between the foothills of the Serra da Estrela and Serra do Açor. Human occupation of this territory is ancient, as evidenced by the various groups of engraved rock art dating from the Neolithic period.