recommended route
PR 1 FVN - Casal de S. Simão Schist Trail - Among the cliffs of S. Simão
Hiking trail
· Portugal
-
Fragas de São SimãoPhoto: Aldeias do Xisto
Spanning 5 km, the Schist Walking Trail at Casal de São Simão is a winding route that allows visitors to discover the most beautiful places surrounding this Aldeia do Xisto.
moderate
Distance 4.9 km
2:30 h
276 m
276 m
319 m
196 m
This Schist walking trail extends over 5,1 km through the village surroundings. The route passes by the cliffs of S. Simão, the river beach and through the villages of Além da Ribeira, Ponte do Bras Curado and Saonda. Along the Alge and Fato streams, with their dense riverine vegetation, ancient irrigation canals that once carried water to the water mills can still be found. There is an alternative to this route (PR 1.1) that shortens the walk (total of 2,7 km), and passes through Além da Ribeira, where cereals are still milled by water mills.
Author’s recommendation
Enjoy the beauty of the landscape, climb down to Fragas de São Simão and witness the sense of community among the “new villagers” who have breathed new life into this Aldeia do Xisto.
Book your stay, experience or meal at Book in Xisto.
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Highest point
319 m
Lowest point
196 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
Beware of high temperatures in the summer and slippery terrain in the winter.Useful Contacts
Emergency number: 112
SOS Forest fires: 117
Police: 236 559 300
ADXTUR - Schist Village Network - 275 647 700 | 960 101 873
Tips and hints
The Aldeia do Xisto of Casal de São Simão only has one street. It is located on one of the quartzite crest flanks that give rise to the cliffs of São Simão, and has the oldest temple in the municipality of Figueiró dos Vinhos. The village extends along a summit almost parallel to the Alge Stream. The entrance is at the highest point and the town ends where the roughness of the terrain makes further streets impossible.This village has a new community spirit created by people who have restored the houses with their own hands. They are new villagers who have come from the city and brought new life to these parts. Every weekend and whenever they can manage it, they get together in each others’ houses and cooperate over meals, in building works, in socialising.The countless watercourses of this area, with numerous ancient irrigation canals and mills, are all witnesses of men occupation. However, it is still possible to find a few areas of regional vegetation, characterized by Portuguese laurel, royal fern, lady-fern, English oak, European alder, glossy buckthorn and elderberries. The forests of cork oak, chestnut and laurels can still be found on the slopes of the S. Simão cliffs. There is also a rich fauna in the region, with fire salamanders, gold-striped salamanders, the Iberian frog, the Eurasian kingfisher, the black-bellied dipper, the ash-grey heron, and the black redstart. Traces of otters can easily be found in the streams. There are many mammals hidden in the vegetation, in particular foxes, the genet, the Egyptian mongoose, wild cats, the European poleca and least weasels. All these predators are looking for rabbits or a hare.
Gastronomy
- Regional sweets (typical cakes from the convent, a legacy of the nuns that remained here until the 19th century)
- Sponge cake
- Sweet chestnuts
- “Pingos de tocha”
- “Queijinhos do céu”
- “Broinhas de casamento”
- Mountain honey (Serra da Lousã Protected Area)
- River fish: black bass, boce, carp, barbel and trout
- Lamb and kid
Start
"S.Simão GPS 39° 55' 1""N, -8° 19' 22""W / Fluvial Beach of Fragas de S.Simão GPS 39º 54' 56''N - 8º 19' 2''W " (322 m)
Coordinates:
DD
39.917167, -8.322633
DMS
39°55'01.8"N 8°19'21.5"W
UTM
29S 557889 4418783
w3w
///tribally.appropriate.owing
Destination
"S.Simão GPS 39° 55' 1""N, -8° 19' 22""W / Fluvial Beach of Fragas de S.Simão GPS 39º 54' 56''N - 8º 19' 2''W "
Turn-by-turn directions
The Casal de São Simão Schist Trail is a sinuous route through the beautiful village surroundings. After descending the village main street, a track leads towards the Fato stream, with its small waterfalls speckled by green riverside vegetation. Here we find the alternative route PR 1.1, that takes us to a shorter route (total of 2,7 km). It crosses the Alge stream at the village of Além da Ribeira and joins back up with the main route (PR 1). The longer route (5,1 km) continues to go down towards the village of Saonda, passing an ancient water mill. We descend again to the Alge stream and cross it at the Brás Curado bridge. The route now follows an ancient irrigation canal, on the banks of the stream all the way to the village of Além da Ribeira. The villagers here still use the water mill. Further ahead we find the impressive São Simão cliffs, a monumental canyon forged over time by the force of water. In the summer the clear water of the river beach invites us for a refreshing swim. After contemplating the beauty of this site, with the lush Laurissilva forest, the route continues towards Casal de S. Simão. After passing by the beautifull ruins of an ancient settlement, irrigation canals and water mills we come across a big cork oak field that stretches along the final climb to the village.
Note
all notes on protected areas
Coordinates
DD
39.917167, -8.322633
DMS
39°55'01.8"N 8°19'21.5"W
UTM
29S 557889 4418783
w3w
///tribally.appropriate.owing
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
4.9 km
Duration
2:30 h
Ascent
276 m
Descent
276 m
Highest point
319 m
Lowest point
196 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
- 6 Waypoints
- 6 Waypoints
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
Questions and answers
Would you like to the ask the author a question?
Rating
Help others by being the first to add a review.
Photos from others