Felgueira lies in the green landscape of the Serra da Freita, beside the clear blue waters of the Rio Cabrum. Agriculture cultivated on terraces shapes the colours and rural character of the village; the houses are made of granite and have slate roofs. Felgueira holds the title “Aldeia de Portugal”. Here, landscape, agriculture and architecture come together.

Trails with different destinations

The hiking trails in Vale de Cambra pass through varied landscapes and connect different places. The car-free PR2 “À N. Sra da Saúde por caminhos de antigamente” follows the old pilgrimage route to the Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Saúde. The PR5 “Aldeias do Arestal” starts at the Santuário da Senhora da Saúde, connects with the PR2 and leads to the Capela de S. Tiago. A recreation area with picnic tables is located around the chapel.

The PR3 “Vereda do Pastor” starts in Côvo and leads to Agualva via an old path, a forest track and a stone footbridge. On the PR4 “Trebilhadouro”, the start and finish are in the village of Trebilhadouro; the short circular route runs along the slopes of the Serra da Freita and through the river landscape near the Barragem Engenheiro Duarte Pacheco on the Rio Caima. Check the route details before setting out. Woodpeckers, hawks, flocks of partridges and copper-coloured mountain butterflies may be seen on the PR4; sightings can vary.

The PR6 “Paraduça” leads to the Poço do Linho waterfall at the entrance to the village, beside the Ribeira de Paraduça. In the Ribeira de Agualva valley, the route description highlights a forest in particular. Another way to explore nature is the Rota da Água e da Pedra. Its natural and cultural features include waterfalls, rivers, peat bogs, old mines, dolmens, rock formations, fossils, geological features, valleys, quartzite slabs and prehistoric engravings. The Serra do Arestal reaches a maximum height of 830 metres and preserves important megalithic remains.

Villages, granite and mills

The village of Trebilhadouro was restored for rural tourism. Its houses and paths preserve the traditional Portuguese rural style, with granite buildings. The rock engravings at Trebilhadouro depict spirals, cup marks, lines and weapons; one depiction is probably a stone axe. Lomba, meanwhile, sits on a rise that ends in a small peninsula. It is home to a church, a cemetery, several houses and more than 15 canastros. The layout and the many canastros give the village a distinctive architectural profile.

The mills of Paraduça also tell the story of how the landscape has been used. Five mills that served the village were restored in 2004. Of the restored mills, four are currently in operation and are regularly used by local residents. As operations may change, check their current status before visiting. Nature and culture also meet along the Levada de Santa Cruz: it passes through lush forests that provide a habitat for the water lizard, the Iberian frog and the otter.

Culture in the town centre and museum

The Museu Municipal de Vale de Cambra is housed in the former municipal administration buildings of Macieira de Cambra. Macieira was the seat of a municipality until 1926; the museum opened in 1997. Its permanent exhibition explores rural culture, local traditions and the agricultural cycles of bread, linen and wine. The collection includes archaeological objects, farming tools, black pottery, faience from the former Fábrica Nalda, regional costumes, traditional nativity scenes and works of art. The museum also offers interactive expression and creative workshops for children. Check before your visit whether the workshops are taking place.

The Roteiro de Santo António is confined to the town centre and can be explored on foot. Stops include the Santuário de Santo António, designed by architect Agostinho Ricca and engineer António Alpoim, with stained-glass windows by Domingos Pinho. Two precise dates are part of the construction history of the present-day Capela de Santo António: its construction was approved in 1924 and completed in 1928. The religious festivals Festa de São Tiago and Festa de Nossa Senhora da Liberação are held annually in Felgueira. The Roteiro dos Presépios Comunitários is a lively Christmas tradition that now extends across Vale de Cambra.

Local cuisine can also be explored through specific dishes: the Mira Freita restaurant in Felgueira serves Vitela Arouquesa and Cabrito da Gralheira. Menus may change, so check what is on offer before your visit.

Water and practical information

Praia Fluvial de Burgães is on the Rio Caima and is the municipality’s only river beach with lifeguards. Lifeguard cover is seasonal; check before swimming. The river beach is designated a “Praia Acessível” and has a ColourAdd colour identification system. Before travelling, check which specific accessibility facilities are currently available.

Discover more destinations: Vale de Cambra, Macieira de Cambra, Torreira, Castelo de Paiva, Águeda, Estarreja, Arouca, Albergaria-a-Velha.

For the broader travel overview: Aveiro.