Vale do Cesarão

The route begins at Largo da Praça in Vilar Maior. It starts by winding through this picturesque village, passing by its listed buildings, notably the pillory, the Romanesque bridge, and the castle. Near the castle, the trail leaves the village and descends toward the Cesarão River. Trees of various species emerge from among the granite boulders, ranging from cherry, mulberry, and walnut trees to oaks and chestnut trees. Along the river, you’ll spot abandoned water mills. Cross the river and head toward Arrifana along an old path, featuring sections of cobblestone and anthropomorphic graves. It is an area of scrubland and oak groves, occasionally dotted with small marshes. Arrifana is a small village whose isolation has helped preserve its traditional architecture. The route then begins a moderate descent to the confluence of the Ribeira de Alfaiates and the Rio Cesarão, the main tributaries of the Côa River, just 2 km away. The marshes are bordered by large trees, and there are countless examples of how the water has been harnessed. We cross small bridges and a beautiful stone footbridge and return to Vilar Maior, entering via Largo das Portas.

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This route aims to showcase the rich historical and archaeological heritage of Vilar Maior and the Cesarão Valley, a river that flows through here and empties into the Côa River.
Vilar Maior is a settlement with a very long history, with evidence from various eras attesting to the importance it once held. Notable landmarks include the castle, the ruins of the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo, the pillory, and the bridge, all classified as sites of public interest . The Vilar Maior Museum displays objects of archaeological and ethnographic significance. Along the route, there are some medieval archaeological remains, such as sections of cobblestone pavement, tombs carved into the rock, and wine presses, as well as more modern features such as wayside shrines.

In Largo das Portas, very close to the start of the route, there are two manor houses, and in the upper part of this old village, there are some examples of the traditional rustic architecture typical of this region. In the village of Arrifana, which is even more remote and sparsely populated, there are also several rustic-style buildings that retain their original features, with granite walls and exterior balconies. In the fields surrounding these villages, there are interesting traditional architectural elements such as the “taliscas”—narrow passages in the stone walls, designed to prevent the passage of livestock. At the confluence of the two streams, near Arrifana, there are several examples of water management and distribution systems, such as weirs, canals, water channels, and waterwheels. The streams are also crossed via stone footbridges and fords.

In terms of flora and fauna, there are two habitats worth highlighting: the riparian gallery along the watercourses and diverse areas of scrubland, rocky outcrops, and oak groves. In the latter, and given that we are in an area with minimal human impact, we can observe various birds, such as the honey buzzard, the harrier, and the booted eagle.