recommended route
PR 3 CTB - Schist trails of Sarzedas - the miners’ wells
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Aldeia de SarzedasPhoto: Aldeias do Xisto
Author’s recommendation
Book your stay, experience or meal at Book in Xisto.
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
Be careful as it can be warm in the summer and slippery in the winter.Useful Contacts
SOS Emergency – 112
SOS Forest - 117
GNR (Police) - 272 340 900
ADXTUR - Schist Village Network - 275 647 700 | 960 10 18 73
Tips and hints
Sarzedas, former town and seat of the Municipality, is the only Aldeia do Xisto to have a noble title awarded. The Pillory, the Village square (Largo), Churches and Chapels, stand out in an urban fabric with beautifully designed grandiose houses that vouch for the importance of History. In Alto de São Jacinto, by the Mother church, the Steeple with its Bell Tower – which remained from the old Church over Outeiro – rises in solitary pride over the village.All along the route we see a variety of species of plants that are typical of Mediterranean flora, including olive, cork oak and oak trees, strawberry trees, vines, heather, rosemary and cistus shrubs, as well as small herbaceous plants that bring so much colour to spring. In both the autumn and spring there is also a great variety of wild mushrooms.
The route crosses an extremely rural area, so vegetable plots and well tended farmlands are also common, especially close to the water courses. Some of the trees along this route hold centuries of stories they could tell. Hunting is important in this area, and the local authorities have invested heavily, ensuring species such as the rabbit, partridge, fox and wild boar are abundant, as are some species of birds of prey.
Of particular interest is the Vale da Santa valley, which, especially in spring, is filled with colour from all the wild flowers creating a really relaxing environment. The numerous water courses that cross the parish have been central to the development of the different activities and trades of the population. For example, over time the river Ocreza, and the streams of Alvito and Magueija have been directly connected to the mills and fulling mills (for working with linen), to the olive oil presses and the agricultural and grazing economies. ining activities started in the XIX Century, with the extraction of gold (the oureyros) and some tungsten mines (Gatas, Pomar, Azenha de Cima, Santa). The tungsten mines in Gatas and in Vale da Santa were particularly productive during the Second World War and today you can still find the ore washing building in ruins, as well as the extraction wells.
Gastronomy
- Kid
- Maranhos
- Traditional sausages
- Olive oil (tibornas)
- Wine
- Honey
- Egg pudding
- Rice pudding
- Dry cakes
- Filhós
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
The route starts in the village, next to the Chapel of Santo António. The first part of the walk is urban, showcasing the streets lined with stately homes. After passing the Chapel of S. Sebastião we then follow a Roman cobblestone road towards the steeple of the Parish Church. Still in the town we then pass the fountain, where the local residents used to come to fetch water and where a traditional wash house still exists. From here we head into the countryside following a narrow path that passes under pine, cork oak and oak trees. This takes us to Almoinhas and Rapoula. We will see the “Monte dos Afonsos” farm, named after the family who lived here, and whose schist house is very well preserved. The next stop is in Gatas, from where we have stunning views over the Stream of Magueija and the cultivated fields on its banks, with olive trees that are hundreds of years old adorn the small vegetable plots. This is also where the ancient Tungsten mines are, which were reportedly sold to the Germans during the Second World War. Just a little way on and we can look over the whole Vale da Santa valley, where the Chapel of Santa Maria Madalena is. On our way down we will find remains of the ancient mining exploitations. We come out at the Fonte Santa fountain, so called as it never runs dry, and the water is reputed to perform miracles. From here the route crosses through vegetable patches, creeks and streams. Just before the end we cross an oak forest where the trees are hundreds of years old before coming back to the start point.
Note
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- 7 Waypoints
- 7 Waypoints
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