This activity proposal aims to provide a weekend in the Serra da Estrela area, with the highlight being the only schist village in the municipality of Covilhã (Sobral de São Miguel), considered the "Heart of Schist", a guided tour of Minas da Recheira and a walk in Cortes do Meio, considered the "Capital" of Natural Pools. Come and join us for another event not to be missed!

TIME: Departure from Lisbon at 6.45am
RETURN: Arrival in Lisbon at 7.30pm

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 28 February 2025

Saturday 24th May

10.00 a.m. - Scheduled start time for the walk

Sobral de São Miguel Schist Trail

Points of interest:

- Schist Village of Sobral de São Miguel
- Porsim Stream
- Rock carvings
- Vale de Vacas waterfall and old village
- Mountain scenery, especially Serra da Estrela, Açor and Gardunha
- Cabrieira and Carvalho streams
- Bathing area / River beach
- Trunk of Ferrar
- Mother Church
- Natural landscapes

Distance: 10 kilometres

Difficulty: 3.5 (Scale from 1 to 5, 1 being the easiest)

Estimated duration: 3h30

Sobral de São Miguel

The name of this village comes from the Latin Suberale which designates land where cork oaks grow. Today it is called Sobral de São Miguel, but until 1970 this residential centre in the municipality of Covilhã was called Sobral de Casegas, the parish to which it belonged. It was under this new name that it joined the Schist Villages Network in 2010, while remaining discreet in the popularity that gave fame to its "sisters" in Lousã, such as Cerdeira, Talasnal, Gondramaz and Casal de São Simão. Regardless of their popularity, Sobral de São Miguel deserves to be discovered and to this end it has proudly presented itself as "The Heart of the Schist". There are several reasons for adopting such a convincing slogan, starting with the fact that the village is "one of the largest agglomerations of schist buildings in Portugal", even if, at first glance, you don't always realise the use of the stone, since the vast majority of the buildings are plastered and painted white. This is also where schist is exported to the four corners of the world. The green of the surrounding Açor mountain range frames the white and dark tones of the schist that give the historic centre of Sobral de São Miguel an "enchanted village" atmosphere. The focus of the visit should be on the oldest part of the village, where the houses grew along the curves of the Ribeira do Porsim and followed the hillside as if it were a square.

Recheira Mines

After the picnic / lunch break we will visit the Mining and Environmental Theme Park - QUINTA das MINAS da RECHEIRA , known in the region as "Minas do Alemão", located in Barco - Covilhã, and which was considered one of the 50 Secret Places to explore and discover in the Centre of Portugal. Our visit includes:

- A Geotour on the surface with the interpretation of various thematic panels;
- Visit the Mining Interpretation Centre, where you'll learn about the minerals that were extracted here, what they were used for at the time and even today, and you'll be able to see a huge collection of natural minerals and crystals from our mines and from around the world. You'll also have the unique experience of lighting an original "gasometer", which was the miners' lighting at the time, and be photographed as real "miners";
- Visitors will be equipped as miners, with a sanitised waistcoat and helmet, and will go on a real "Journey through Time", where they will see how a mine is run, observe quartz veins mineralised with wolfram and tin (our minerals), huge excavations - a "mining cathedral", ventilation chimneys, puppets dressed as miners carrying out their duties at the time;
- A visit to two distinctive and innovative galleries in Minas Gerais;
- Visit to the "Lake of Youth and Luck";
- Visit to the "Photographic Art" mining gallery where the history of the mine is told;
- Visit to the Galeria Mineira, where around 5,000 bottles of sparkling wine are matured, and several oak barrels with Reserva Almeida Garrett wine (poet, writer, playwright, politician, founder of modern Portuguese theatre);
- Visit to the Mineira Suite "rented" by an illustrious Hollywood actor;
- Visit to the ex-libris of the complex - the Salão Mineiro de Eventos

8pm - Suggested Group Dinner

25th May (Sunday)

9.30 a.m. - Scheduled start time for the walk

Walking the Route of the Bridges / Natural Pools

Points of interest:

- Cortes do Meio
- Old Bridge
- Monteira well and leisure area
- Old Holm
- Funnel Well
- Tábua Harbour Bridge
- Forno Velho Well
- Combarão Bridge
- Formiga Well
- Pontão Fundeiro
- Bouça Village
- Natural landscapes

Distance: 9 kilometres

Difficulty: 3.5 (Scale from 1 to 5, 1 being the easiest)

Estimated duration: 3h30m

Cortes do Meio

Bridges, holm oaks, ponds, levadas, wells and natural pools combine with a unique stream to give you a surprising route at every turn. Travelling along footpaths and country lanes, this is an accessible route that may present some technical difficulties, particularly in the wet, as much of it is on uneven ground. It's an excellent experience that we recommend so you can enjoy all the wells and pools you'll come across. It passes through the village of Bouça and crosses Cortes do Meio to the River Beach area.

13.30 - Group lunch in a local restaurant

15h45 - End of activity and return to Lisbon

Equipment: Suitable footwear and clothing for nature walks

Registration fee:

Price includes:

- Transport by bus or coach from Lisbon to each of the places described above
- Transport to the locations of each walk and accommodation
- Accommodation with breakfast included - 3 star hotel
- Group lunch
- Guided tour of Recheira Mines
- The proposed accommodation option includes various room types
- Guided Walks
- Compulsory insurance

Prices with transport

Price in double room: 225€
Price in single room: 245€

Values without transport

Price in double room: 175€
Price in single room: 195€

Seat reservation fee: 50€

Prices valid until 31st January. From this date onwards the prices are 250€ and 270€ respectively (option with transport).

Notes: 

a) Registrations are limited and accommodation options are limited to availability at the time of booking.

b) If you have a group interested in this trip, contact us, we have personalised solutions.

- Schist village of Sobral de São Miguel - Vale de Vacas - Waterfall and old village - Minas da Recheira - Ribeira de Porsim - Bathing area - Minas da Recheira - Cortes do Meio - Wells, waterfalls and levadas - Ponte Velha and Ponte do Combarão - Monteira leisure areas - Ribeira de Cortes valley - Bouça village - - Natural landscapes -