Pinhel Route

Madeira Valley

A beautiful natural area with a river beach and an enchanting landscape.

POINT OF INTEREST LOCATION

Vale de Madeira

HOW TO ARRIVE

National Road 324, Pinhel

More points of interest

Historic Centre of Pinhel

Containing plenty of manor houses and churches, the walls are what draw the most attention as they still subsist in their almost totality, as well as five medieval doors that allow us to reach the castle with its two square towers.

Village of Cidadelhe

Cidadelhe, the "heel of the world" belongs to the area of the Archaeological Park of Vale do Côa due to the cave figures engraved in granite dating from Prehistory. The film "Fátima" was filmed here because, according to the director, the streets are as they were 200 years ago and the position on top of a hill allows good light.

Chapel of São Sebastião

Inside, it has a pathusque São Sebastião, referred to by Saramago. Outside, protected by the chapel porch, there is a provincial mannerist painting depicting the Calvary.

Church of Cidadelhe

Dating back to the 18th century and of Baroque style, this church is composed of a nave, chancel and sacristy. Inside, the ceiling of the nave, painted with busts of saints and of the chancel, as well as the main altarpiece in gilded woodcarving in the national style, stand out.

Pillory of Lamegal

Manueline pillory with octagonal shaft ornamented with half-spheres and topped by a quadrangular piece crowned by a pyramid

Viewpoint of Bogalhal Velho

Ruins of a deserted village that constitute not only an archaeological find but also a landscape one for the views over the cliffs and hills of the Côa valley.

Bogalhal Velho

Filled with poetic ruins of a settlement once of medieval importance, it is only possible to decipher the gothic skeleton of a church.

Castle of Pinhel

This castle would have previously been a Lusitanian fortification. However, it was the Romans who made it grow militarily. During the reign of King Dinis, fortification and enlargement work was carried out, and only the wall with the adarve, cubels, five medieval doors and two sturdy square towers have survived to the present day.

Cidadelhe Stronghold

This building stands out in the rural setting of the village, as it houses a pallium: a unique piece of crimson velvet typical of Venice, embroidered in gold, silver and silk, dating from 1707. It also houses missal books, chalices and other antique pieces linked to religious homilies.

Senhora das Fontes Chapel (Santa Eufémia)

Surrounded by nature, the Ermida Senhora das Fontes was built in the 18th century and is a place of pilgrimage on the first weekend of September. The main chapel, among other things, has a painting of great artistic importance.

Côa Valley and Faia Brava Nature Reserve

The Faia Brava Nature Reserve has the purpose of safeguarding the environment, natural resources and the conservation of endangered species. The reserve is open to all, however it is recommended that the visit is accompanied for a more complete experience.

It was the first private nature reserve to be classified by the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests.

Roman Bridge of Lamegal

Roman bridge with a single deck and a perfect arch, under which the Ribeira de Pega or Lamegal stream passes.

Faia Viewpoint (Azêvo)

The viewpoint, inaugurated in April 2022, allows an unobstructed view of the wonderful landscapes over the Côa River and the surrounding slopes.

Pinhel Municipal Museum

Museum where the heritage that characterises the territory from prehistoric times to the present day is emphasised. The visit starts through the reproduction of the cave paintings and engravings of the Côa Valley, then the archaeological materials of Prado Galego and the reference to the Argomil milestone are evidences that help to understand the Roman occupation of this territory. The Medieval period is presented through interactive elements where it is possible to learn facts and instruments that justify the importance of Pinhel in the context of the formation of the national territory. The visit to the Municipal Museum ends at the present time, a present experienced through the testimonies of the people of Pinhel.

House of Culture of Pinhel

The Old Episcopal Palace dates back to the late eighteenth century that, with the extinction of the Diocese of Pinhel, in 1882, was acquired by the City Council that assigned it to different functions. Now it gives way to the Casa da Cultura, where the José Manuel Soares Museum and the Pinhel Municipal Museum are also located.

José Manuel Soares Museum

It houses a significant part of the work of José Manuel Soares, a painter born in 1932 in Odmira. The first rooms display the life and work of the artist, with information about his life path, exhibitions and some awards. It is divided into three parts:

-Illustration: reflects the taste for drawing that formed the basis of his artistic path;

-History of Portugal, where events and characters of the formation of the nationality, the consolidation of independence and the maritime discoveries are presented;

-Landscapes and Monuments, which portray the "rural country" of the 60's and 70's of the 20th century and the monuments, drawn and painted in different artistic techniques, give us the perception of the monumentality that characterizes the territory of Portugal and the importance that these patrimonies still have today.

Sacadura Cabral Square

Emblematic square of the city flanked by the Town Hall of Pinhel, the caged pillory and the Casa de los Condes de Pinhel.

Trincheira Park (Bombarda Quinhentista)

Park with a considerable area, landscaped, with a panoramic view over the Côa Valley and the town of Pinhel.

Pinhel Urban Park

A multipurpose central space of the town, versatile and comfortable for residents and visitors. There is a small water feature, flanked by a small bar and a mini amphitheatre; areas that enhance the practice of sports, basketball, beach volleyball and table tennis and also recreation and leisure through the existence of tables and benches, a space for the practice of traditional games and children's equipment.

Ermo das Águias - Vale de Madeira

Ermo das Águias marks an important transition in the river valley landscape: the gentle slopes that flanked the river from its source come to an end and the cliffs and escarpments that will lead it to its mouth in the River Douro begin. When walking the trails, the sensation is of being in a wild place, with the possibility of contemplating wild animals.

Sítio da Aldeia (Azêvo)

A ghostly and uninhabited place full of old ruins and circular dwellings, probably ancient castros. There is only one strange circular house re-erected by an emigrant, which corresponds to the only testimony of someone living there.

Vale de Madeira Medieval Bridge Ruins

The ruins of the bridge show how imposing it must have been for its time.

Union Bridge

A bridge that crosses the Côa River and allows a glimpse of the escarpments, curves and in between curves, of the Côa valley.

Castro dos Mouros - Cidadelhe

Residents say that men should not be in the castle after dark, under the penalty of succumbing to the sensual pleasures of the Moorish women and disappearing forever. On the way up to the castle is the Forca dos Lusitanos, the Poio do Gato, the gorge on the banks of the river Côa, and with good luck you may come across some open-air rock carvings. At the top of the walk, you will find a Bronze Age (13th to 10th century BC) Castro, once walled, which is the centre point of the place that looks more like an open-air museum due to its great archaeological, landscape and natural wealth.

Solar dos Metelos

It is a residential building, constituted by two floors and a chapel, consecrated in 1770. This medieval nucleus later became a manor house, where the marks of the evolution of domestic manor architecture are visible. The interior still preserves large halls with paper-covered walls, some wooden ceilings and an atrium with 19th century tiles.

Casas do Juízo - Village Tourism

Casa da Roda - Residential Tourism

Quinta das Pias - Agrotourism

Cidadelhe Rupestre - Rural Tourism

Casa da Trincheira - Residential Tourism

Cravo´s Heritage House

Casa Porta de Santiago - Lodging

Casa dos Castelos - Lodging

Guest House Alecrim e Rosmaninho

Refugio do Côa-Pure Countryside Experience

Entre Portas

Deep Taste Restaurant

Taberna do Juíz Tavern

Quinta da Cheinha - Restaurant " O Petisco"

Restaurant Primus

Cebola Brava

Restaurant A Tasca

Artisan Burger

Village of Lamegal

Lamegal was the administrative and economic centre of a community of shepherds, farmers and weavers, which was dispersed in small villages and couples. From this period, customs, legends and popular traditions have been preserved.

Pillory of Pinhel

Located in the centre of Sacadura Cabral Square, it is a beautiful granite monument, it is a symbol of the municipality's judicial autonomy.