Ten short hiking routes with a total of 61.8 signposted kilometres: the Rede de Percursos Pedestres da Lousã opens up a variety of trails that connect landscape and history. The routes are approved by the Federação de Campismo e Montanhismo de Portugal. A striking introduction to this variety is the Rota dos Moinhos on PR1 LSA. It starts near the Igreja Matriz da Lousã, offers views of the Ribeira das Hortas waterfall and passes through the Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Piedade. The trail also reaches the Fábrica do Papel do Prado, founded in 1716. Check current trail conditions before setting out on a hike.

Trails among mills, villages and mountain views

PR6 LSA – Trilho dos Moleiros also highlights the region’s milling heritage. It follows the Ribeira da Fórnea and passes several watermills. Their horizontal water wheels are mostly made up of a pair of millstones. The historic use of hydropower can be seen elsewhere on PR2 LSA – Caminho do Xisto da Lousã: the route connects Castelo da Lousã and Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Piedade with the schist villages of Talasnal and Casal Novo. The Central Hidroeléctrica da Ermida, which PR2 passes, was built in 1927 to provide light to the town and power to the Fábrica de Papel.

Another route designated PR2 LSA is the Rota das Aldeias do Xisto; it starts beside Castelo de Arouce. In the second half of the 11th century, the castle was part of one of the first lines of defence for controlling the southern approaches to Coimbra, and it was first mentioned in a document in 1087. Those looking for a challenging trail will find it on the Rota do Trevim on PR4 LSA: it leads to the highest point of the Serra da Lousã and offers far-reaching views.

Serra da Lousã: Nature and villages

Several trails lead through landscapes associated with the Rede Natura 2000. The Rota da Levada on PR3 LSA runs within the protected area and leads to biodiversity refuges in the Serra da Lousã. The Rota Bosques do Catarredor on PR5 LSA is also located in the Rede Natura 2000 and features impressive examples of native forest vegetation. The Rota À Descoberta da Floresta on PR7 LSA leads to a biodiversity protection area associated with the Rede Natura 2000.

For an independent exploration of the Mata do Sobral, there is Descobrir a Mata do Sobral: an informal 7.6-kilometre walking trail with 20 geocaches. It is part of the Rede Natura 2000 at the Sítio Serra da Lousã site. If you want to search for the geocaches, check their availability in advance.

Lousã’s five mountain settlements in the Aldeias do Xisto network – Candal, Casal Novo, Cerdeira, Chiqueiro and Talasnal – have been documented since the 16th century. Candal lies like an amphitheatre on the slopes of the Serra da Lousã and is crossed by the Ribeira do Candal. Cerdeira offers international artist residencies, training workshops and small-scale creative activities; these include Casa das Artes, a library, a gallery and a community oven. In the wider region, twelve villages in the Serra da Lousã are part of the Rede das Aldeias do Xisto, five of them in the Concelho da Lousã.

Culture, local insights and practical information

Lousã also offers a variety of cultural discoveries. The Museu Etnográfico Dr. Louzã Henriques presents Portuguese rural life as it was lived up to the 1950s and 1960s. The Museu Municipal Prof. Álvaro Viana de Lemos houses the Welcome Center of the Aldeias do Xisto, which provides specialised information about the schist villages. The Welcome Center also provides visitor information for the area; check the current services available before your trip.

The Palácio dos Salazares offers a different architectural highlight: the building is designed in the Pombaline and Neoclassical styles and has a portal topped by a coat of arms. A more recent cultural attraction is Momo – Museu do Circo. A programme documented in May 2025 included performances for the community, workshops, musical evenings, afternoons for children and juggling workshops; individual activities may change. The Casa Museu Carlos Reis – Casa da Lagartixa has been restored and enhanced with documentary material and a multimedia interpretation system.

Local cuisine also has its place: the Festival Gastronómico da Chanfana is part of Lousã’s annual gastronomic calendar. The 2026 edition was the 14th and marked the 21st year of gastronomic festivals in Lousã. At the Loja do Xisto, bread, cheese and traditional sweets are made using traditional methods. If you are interested in a workshop, check in advance whether one is available.

Praia Fluvial Senhora da Piedade offers the chance to swim in the waters of the Ribeira de São João. Check bathing conditions and opening arrangements before you travel. The EN 17 connects Lousã and Coimbra; the drive takes just over 25 minutes, depending on traffic. Lousã is also served by regular public transport services as part of the CIM Região de Coimbra intermunicipal transport system (SIT RC) and the Sistema de Mobilidade do Mondego. Contact the operators for current timetables. If you prefer to explore by bike, the Centro de BTT da Lousã offers cross-country (XC), downhill (DH) and enduro (EN) trails. The routes are divided into four difficulty levels: green, blue, red and black; classifications may be updated.

Discover more destinations: Lousã, Serpins, Penela, Arganil, Montemor-o-Velho, Penacova, Coimbra and Miranda Do Corvo.

Back to the main travel overview: Coimbra.