The gíria quadrazenha was still used by smugglers until the 1960s; at the same time, paths and routes lead into the landscape along the Côa and around the Serra da Malcata. Quadrazais thus combines local history and nature, with the routes described requiring different kinds of planning.

Language History and Buildings

The earliest known record of the gíria quadrazenha dates from the reign of D. Pedro IV. Smugglers continued to use it until the 1960s. An early written record and use continuing into the 20th century are therefore milestones in the timeline of this local language history. Another historical milestone is the year 1651, when the Spanish suffered a major defeat in Quadrazais.

The village’s buildings include the Igreja Matriz de Quadrazais, its most important monument. It dates from the 17th century. The Capela de Santo Cristo is dated to the 19th–20th centuries. Visitors interested in local culture can also find traditional women’s clothing from Quadrazais at the Junta de Freguesia; it is over a hundred years old.

The traditional form of bull-running is also part of the village’s history: in Quadrazais, it involved a forcão, garrochas and garrochões.

Festivals and Food

Quadrazais’s main festival is held on 16 September in honour of Santa Eufémia. In August, the Junta de Freguesia and a local association organise activities such as Capeia Arraiana. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these events, check the specific dates in advance.

Quadrazais’s cuisine includes roast kid goat, sausages and wild rabbit. Côa trout and Serra da Malcata cheese are also mentioned. The local selection therefore ranges from meat dishes to fish and cheese from the Serra da Malcata.

Along the Côa and in the Serra da Malcata Landscape

Praia Fluvial de Quadrazais, also known as Zona de Lazer da Lameira, lies on the River Côa beside the village and at the edge of the Serra da Malcata Nature Reserve. In 2023, Quercus – Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza – awarded Praia Fluvial da Lameira its “Qualidade de Ouro” distinction. There are walking trails in the area; the Grande Rota do Vale do Côa and trails into the landscape of the Serra da Malcata Nature Reserve form part of the wider setting.

Two details are important for the Grande Rota do Côa stage between Vale de Espinho and Quadrazais: it follows the right bank of the Côa as far as Moinho do Rato, and Quadrazais is reached via a 1.2-kilometre, unmarked detour outside the GRVC. This detour passes through farmland. It is therefore important to distinguish the detour from the route outside the village.

A separate cycling route starts in Sabugal, follows the course of the Côa, passes through the parishes of Quadrazais and Vale de Espinho, and climbs to Serra das Mesas, the source of the Côa. Check the route before setting off. The cycling route and the Grande Rota stage are different ways to explore the landscape and trails around Quadrazais.

When planning your trip, you can first choose what to focus on: the village’s language and architectural history, a festival date, local cuisine or the surrounding trails. If you are planning your stay around an event, checking the specific event date and considering the different routes separately can help tailor your plans to your interests.

Discover more destinations: Vale das Éguas, Rapoula do Côa, Soito, Sabugal, Fóios, Sortelha

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