You can get to know Riba de Mouro through its pastoral architecture, mountain trails and local traditions. At Branda de Santo António de Vale de Poldros, seasonal agricultural use and the Cardenhas come together. The chapel, festive customs, crafts and language offer further perspectives on the area. An approximate trail duration and the date of an annual festival provide practical reference points for planning.

Hiking between the plateau and the Cardenhas

The Trilho de Santo António de Vale de Poldros crosses a plateau covered with gorse, broom and heather. A 2024 local destination publication gives the trail’s approximate length as 10.5 kilometres and its duration as around 3 hours and 45 minutes. The length and duration are estimates and provide a timeframe for planning your hike. Along the way, you can discover the Cardenhas, which bear witness to the former lives of shepherds and farmers.

The Centro Cycling & Walking de Monção is also relevant for outdoor activities. It is located in the parish of Riba de Mouro, in the village of Santo António de Vale de Poldros, and provides facilities for mountain biking and hiking in the mountains. A 2022 overview lists an 11-kilometre walking trail there, as well as seven cycling routes across four difficulty levels: easy, moderate, difficult and very difficult. Since these route details date from 2022, check current route availability before your trip. Mountain biking experiences take you through mountain landscapes with Cardenhas, animals, pastures, trails and forests.

Cardenhas, the chapel and historical uses

The Cardenhas at Branda de Santo António de Vale de Poldros are shelters made of granite and some slate, with roofs built in the form of a false dome. The animals were usually kept on the lower level, while the shepherds slept above. The branda itself is a seasonal agricultural residential area. Its origins are dated either to the early Middle Ages or to the early modern period. Together, their structure and use show how closely the Cardenhas were connected to the former lives of shepherds and farmers.

The Capela de Santo António de Vale de Poldros features vernacular religious architecture, a single-nave layout and granite construction. Its altarpiece is Neoclassical and dates from the 19th century. The Quartéis around the chapel were houses where pilgrims stayed during the preparatory novenas. Their historical function forms part of the area’s religious history; it does not indicate current accommodation options.

Festivals and living traditions

The Romaria de Santo António de Vale de Poldros includes a preparatory novena, a festive Mass, a sermon and a solemn procession. The programme also features Garrano horse races, as well as animal exhibitions and competitions. The festival in honour of Saint Anthony in Santo António de Vale de Poldros takes place annually in mid-June and includes a gathering of accordion players.

Another tradition is the Riba de Mouro votive procession, organised each year by a different village in the municipality. The parish church is also among Riba de Mouro’s culturally and historically significant tourist sites. Together with the chapel and Quartéis, these religious customs form a distinct focus alongside hiking and landscape experiences.

Crafts and language in Riba de Mouro

Traditional crafts include wooden clog-making, basket weaving, tinsmithing and linen weaving. These activities complement the area’s visible built heritage with traditional craftsmanship. Ribamourês is a Galician-Portuguese dialect associated with Riba de Mouro and offers another way to experience the regional culture.

The different details can help answer different questions as you plan your trip: the Trilho gives you an approximate timeframe for a hike, while the Saint Anthony festival offers a seasonal date for a visit. This can help you decide whether you want your getaway to focus mainly on the landscape and pastoral architecture, or on religious customs, festivals and local heritage.

Discover more destinations: Sá, Tangil, Monção, Merufe, Messegães, Pias

Go to the main travel overview: Monção.