The Rota dos Galhardos combines an 11 km circular hike with Roman and medieval calçadas; Folgosinho adds a castle, local festival traditions and regional cuisine to the hiking scenery.

Hiking between Calçadas and Mountain Country

The Rota dos Galhardos is an 11 km circular hiking trail of the Pequena Rota (PR) type in the municipality of Folgosinho and the Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela. Its route follows the Roman and medieval Calçadas of Folgosinho to the higher mountain area. It includes a section of the GR-22, running between Portela de Folgosinho and Pedra Furada.

The traditional pilgrimage route from Folgosinho to the Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Assedace is about 9 km long and is offered as a guided experience with interpretation of the landscape. By comparison, it is shorter than the Rota dos Galhardos and also differs in being guided. If you are planning to take part in an organized tour, check the specific dates.

Forest trails provide access to large parts of Casais de Folgosinho; hikers use them for the sweeping views across the landscape. Casais lies to the south and east, on both slopes of the Mondego, where clear streams water the pastures. The chapel of Nossa Senhora de Assedace in Casais de Folgosinho stands at an altitude of 935 metres and serves as a place of devotion and pilgrimage.

Granite, Quartz and Views

The Castelo de Folgosinho, made of pure white-pink quartz, overlooks the Mondego Valley and crowns one of Portugal’s largest quartzite formations. The structure was built in the 1940s. The Castelo offers views of Folgosinho and the valley carved by a clear stream.

Cabeça do Faraó also shapes the local landscape: erosion gave this natural granite outcrop a form resembling the profile of a human head. At the summit of Outeiro, a small picnic area offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.

History and Buildings in Folgosinho

Sancho I granted Folgosinho a charter in 1187, which D. Afonso II confirmed in 1217. Among the town’s notable buildings is the Igreja Matriz de Folgosinho. Traces of a synagogue, Manueline windows and a Roman paved road are also among its historical features. In Folgosinho’s square, the Fonte de Pedrão features sculptures and azulejo tilework.

At the entrance to Folgosinho stands the Casa de Viriato, which local legend associates with a former residence of Viriato. Pedra Furada is a large boulder at the upper end of the Calçada da Serra de Baixo. Local legend links it to the Moors tying up their horses. Only the site of the former gallows remains; it is called Cerro das Forcas and lies about 200 metres from Outeiro, on the way to the Calçada de Galhardos.

Festivals, Cuisine and Crafts

The Romaria de Nossa Senhora de Assedace is an annual festival in Folgosinho associated with transhumance; it combines religious and secular elements. Dates and arrangements may change. On the first Sunday in September, the Igreja Matriz celebrates the festival in honour of Nossa Senhora do Socorro. The exact programme may vary.

Local handicrafts and products include sheep’s cheese, requeijões and queijetas. Local cuisine includes chanfana and oven-roasted goat. Crafts are also part of the area’s character, including embroidered shepherds’ sweaters and waistcoats, cloaks and safões.

Discover more destinations: Vila Nova de Tazem, Paços Da Serra, Mangualde da Serra, Gouveia, Cativelos.

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