Prazeres between culture and landscape

Prazeres combines a public educational programme with connections to the landscape and its trails. When looking for a hotel in Prazeres, you can first decide whether history, educational activities, hiking or cycling will shape your stay. How the trails are classified depends on more than just their length: their route, estimated duration, difficulty and current status also play a role.

The place name Prazeres derives from a small hermitage dedicated to Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres. Quinta Pedagógica dos Prazeres offers another way to explore the area’s culture. It was inaugurated in October 2000 as a project to educate, raise awareness and promote the rural environment. Its free educational programme is open to the general public and includes workshops, classes, guided tours and events. The hermitage explains the origin of the place name; the Quinta presents education and the rural environment in its own distinct context.

The parish of Prazeres is considered a wide-ranging viewpoint, offering views of places that seem far away; at the same time, the close connection between land and sea along the ocean is part of its landscape. Terraces used for agriculture are supported by walls made of hewn stone. Expansive views and terraces shaped by agriculture offer different perspectives on the landscape.

Hiking trails: compare routes and status

The PR 19 Caminho Real do Paul do Mar is a short hiking trail, 1.8 km long, with an estimated duration of 1 hour 20 minutes. It is rated moderate, starts at an elevation of around 550 metres and descends between Prazeres and Paul do Mar. The trail is currently listed as open; check the conditions before setting out.

The PR 20 Vereda do Jardim do Mar connects the parishes of Prazeres and Jardim do Mar. It starts in Prazeres at an elevation of 530 metres, is rated easy and is 1.9 km long; the estimated duration is 1 hour 30 minutes. The trail is currently marked as closed. The routes differ in length by only 0.1 km and in estimated time by ten minutes. Despite these similar figures, the trails are not interchangeable: PR 19 is a moderate descent and is listed as open; PR 20 is rated easy, connects the two parishes and is marked as closed. When choosing, pay particular attention to the route and current status as well as the length and duration.

A mountain biking route with named endpoints

The Pico da Pedreira–Lombo da Velha mountain biking route starts at Pico da Pedreira in the Paul da Serra area and reaches Lombo da Velha in the parish of Prazeres after 2.96 km. Its named endpoints help cyclists understand the route and distinguish this cycling option from the two hiking trails. When planning your trip, you can compare all three routes: the descent of PR 19, the PR 20 connection between Prazeres and Jardim do Mar, and the mountain biking route from Paul da Serra towards Lombo da Velha.

Discover more destinations: Porto Da Cruz, Arco De São Jorge, Boaventura, Campanário, Porto Moniz, Tabua, Fajã Da Ovelha, Arco Da Calheta

For the general travel overview: Madeira.