Nascente do Côa

The route begins at Largo da Praça, the most central square in Fóios. From here, it heads south, winding through small marshes and hazelnut groves. After crossing the Côa River, scrubland and pine forests begin to dominate the landscape all the way to the border, from where you can see vast areas of Spain and Beira Baixa. The route then heads northeast along the border, through a rugged area marked by the harshness of the climate. The vegetation is low-growing and sparse, allowing you to appreciate the spectacular forms of granite erosion, notably the perfect orthogonal fracturing that gives rise to the so-called “mesas” (tables) that gave the mountain range its name. Amid this authentic open-air “geological museum,” we climb up to near the summit of the mountain range, at 1,256 meters. The descent back to Fóios begins, passing by the source of the Côa River. This site, like the entire route, is part of the “Natura 2000 Network” and has been designated as a “Biodiversity Station,” where the area’s habitats are illustrated, with a focus on butterflies and other insects. The trail then follows a section of the “smugglers’ path,” once used for journeys to the Spanish villages. Near Fóios, the trail enters an area of great beauty, with lush marshes, oak groves, and large chestnut trees separated by schist walls.