Barroca offers two very different ways to explore the village’s history: prehistoric horse engravings at Poço do Caldeirão and buildings whose stories range from Casa Grande to religious sites. The landscape along the Zêzere also adds another dimension, shaped by riverside woodland, use of the river and mining spoil heaps. Before your stay, you can decide whether to focus on rock art, architecture and religious heritage, or on the river landscape and a viewpoint. Barroca is also an Aldeia do Xisto.
Prehistoric Art at Poço do Caldeirão
The Centro de Interpretação da Arte Pré-Histórica do Poço do Caldeirão presents objects, texts, graphic reproductions of engravings and infographics. The visitor trail at Poço do Caldeirão runs along the Zêzere and includes three Palaeolithic depictions of horses. They were engraved using the pecking technique, and all face to the right. Visitors wishing to focus on prehistoric art will find different ways to experience it here: an exhibition featuring texts and graphic formats, as well as the actual horse motifs along the visitor trail. The shared orientation and the specified engraving technique give the three depictions clear, recognisable features.
Casa Grande and Religious Heritage
Casa Grande da Barroca was built in 1783 on the orders of Cónego Dr. Francisco Gonçalves. Its architecture is considered typical of 18th-century residential buildings in Beira. The house’s date of construction and its regional architectural context can therefore be considered together. Another historical trace concerns official correspondence: Fabião António issued it at Casa Grande in his capacity as administrator of the concelho. The building’s history and this administrative activity offer different perspectives on the house.
Barroca’s religious heritage includes sites dating from the early 18th to the 20th century. The religious trail links Capela de São Roque, the Alminha, Capela de São Romão, the Antiga capela particular, Igreja paroquial and Capela de Nª Srª da Agonia. Igreja Matriz de Barroca is listed as religious cultural heritage of interest. This places its historical focus in a different period from that of the Palaeolithic engravings: here, the focus is on religious sites and heritage from several centuries.
The Zêzere, Landscape and Activities
Above the Barroca weir, dense and diverse riverside woodland along the banks of the Zêzere provides a habitat for otters. The old mills are also connected with the river: they were powered by its force. The landscape is also marked by spoil heaps left by ore extraction at the Minas da Panasqueira. Alongside the riverside woodland and use of the river, visitors can also see traces of mining. Barroca’s Zona de Lazer is considered a place to relax by the river.
A viewpoint at Santuário da Sr.ª da Rocha invites visitors to climb up and enjoy the views and take photographs. This offers a different focus from relaxing by the river. The PR1 FND Caminho do Xisto da Barroca – Rota das gravuras rupestres is listed as a hiking route, while Meandros I [GR33 - GRZ] is listed as a canoeing route. The two names represent different activities: hiking and canoeing.
Getting There and Planning
From Fundão, take the N238 for 27 km to Barroca. This distance gives you a specific point of reference for travelling from there. When planning the rest of your visit, you can weigh up the village’s different highlights: the horse engravings, Casa Grande, the religious trail or the landscape along the Zêzere.
Discover more destinations: Fundão, Aldeia de Joanes, Silvares, Alpedrinha, Alcongosta, Salgueiro, Donas, Aldeia Nova Do Cabo.
Back to the main travel overview: Fundão.
