recommended route
PR 8 PNV - Figueira Schist trail - Following the Schist walls
Hiking trail
· Portugal
-
Photo: Rafael Romano, Aldeias do Xisto
Figueira Schist Trail - Following The Schist Walls allows you to discover the area surrounding the Figueira Aldeias do Xisto.
easy
Distance 6.4 km
1:45 h
182 m
182 m
397 m
294 m
Circular route of 6.3 km, which leads us to discover the area surrounding the village. Following the Figueira stream we can observe the schist walls that seem to have been carved by a cleaver. They lead us to the ancient olive oil press and to the bridge that crosses the stream. Crossing pinewoods and olive groves we reach the village of Pereiro before returning to Figueira. This section follows a path between low schist walls, passing the stream and a fountain where we can quench our thirst. We finish by climbing to the village, where qe cannot forget to first visit the primitive schist nucleus and the community oven.
Author’s recommendation
Visit the original schist core, the Figueira communal oven and the Aldeias do Xisto shop. Enjoy the unique gastronomy that reflects an agricultural and pastoral tradition.
Book your stay, experience or meal at Book in Xisto.
Difficulty
easy
Technique
Stamina
Highest point
397 m
Lowest point
294 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
SOS Emergency: 112
SOS Forest: 117
GNR Proença-a-Nova (police): (+351) 274 672 667
ADXTUR- Aldeias do Xisto Network: (+351) 275 647 700 | (+351) 960 101 873
Tips and hints
The village of Figueira is a well-preserved schist village. In old times the “wolves gates” would completely close the village during the night, protecting livestock and poultry from being attacked. Made up of streets, alleys, narrow quelhos and quelhas arranged in labyrinthine fashion, the core houses the communal wood oven, where bread is regularly baked. The Figueira stream, which circles the village, offers wide margins in certain places, used for subsistence farming, olive trees and grazing animals. These margins are beautifully structured by long hatchet schist stonewalls, in order to defeat the flow of the stream without degradation. Its width also facilitated movements between the cultivated fields and food and goods transportation.
Gastronomy
- Maranho (Goat stomach filled with goat meat mixture)
- Cabrito (Oven wood roasted kid)
- Plangaio (rice and pork stew)
- Traditional smoked sausages
- Cabbage with breadcrumbs
- Tigelada da Cortiçada (Baked custard pudding - Cortiçada style)
- Fritters
- Coscoréis (pastries)
- Broas de Mel (pastries)
- Honey
- Olive oil
Start
Entrance to the village of Figueira GPS - 39°45'7.51"N 7°51'13.38"W (332 m)
Coordinates:
DD
39.751991, -7.852268
DMS
39°45'07.2"N 7°51'08.2"W
UTM
29S 598324 4400861
w3w
///braked.trampolines.magicians
Destination
Entrance to the village of Figueira GPS - 39°45'7.51"N 7°51'13.38"W
Turn-by-turn directions
Circular walking route of 6.3 km. The route starts in the Village Square and heads towards the Figueira stream, whose crystal clear waters will accompany us for a good part of the route. As we follow the stream and head towards the olive oil press, we take wide paths in the shade of pine trees. Further along we can see the banks of the stream carved right through the schist. Close to the press we can see the old tanks and grindstones that made the press turn, reminding us of the hard work involved when the press was fully operational. We cross an old schist bridge and, following the waymarks, we continue through eucalyptus and pinewoods as well as olive groves, to the village of Pereiro. We can hear the crows, see birds of prey and smell the sweet cistus plants, the wild heather and rosemary. Close to the end of the route, following paths bordered by low schist walls that separate small fields, we can see Figueira again. We cross the stream and climb towards the village passing the fountain.
Note
all notes on protected areas
Coordinates
DD
39.751991, -7.852268
DMS
39°45'07.2"N 7°51'08.2"W
UTM
29S 598324 4400861
w3w
///braked.trampolines.magicians
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Difficulty
easy
Distance
6.4 km
Duration
1:45 h
Ascent
182 m
Descent
182 m
Highest point
397 m
Lowest point
294 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
- 3 Waypoints
- 3 Waypoints
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
Questions and answers
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