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PR4VLR Água Formosa Schist Path The Discovery of the Rivers

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Aldeias do Xisto

Photo: Rafael Romano, Aldeias do Xisto

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The Discovery of the Rivers extends along the old paths used by millers and farmers to reach the watermills and fields near the Galega and Valada rivers.

Open

easy

Distance 6.8 km

2:50 h

97 m

111 m

326 m

220 m

The Água Formosa Schist Path – The Discovery of the Rivers is a circular route of 7.43 km with small slopes accessible to visitors. It extends along the old paths of the millers and farmers when they headed to the watermills and the surrounding bushes of the Galega and Valada rivers. The path follows the river, leading us to an old olive oil mill, passing by irrigation channels and weirs. From this point until the village of Vilar Chão, we walk through a pine forest patch, rejoining the path we had already traveled when we left the Água Formosa Schist Village.

Author’s recommendation

Enjoy the beautiful riverside gallery and visit the gold-washing sites, witnesses of ancient gold mining operations.

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Informação Aldeias do Xisto

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Aldeias do Xisto

Difficulty

easy

Overall difficulty

easy

Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

Highest point

326 m

Lowest point

220 m

Best time of year

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Safety information

The condition of the route changes with the weather, so in winter and on rainy days, pay special attention to the slippery surface. In summer, temperatures can rise considerably, so always wear a hat and bring water.

Useful contacts

Emergency SOS: 112

Forest SOS: 117

GNR Vila de Rei: (+351) 274 890 030

ADXTUR - Schist Villages Network: (+351) 275 037 393 | (+351) 960 101 873

Tips and suggestions

The Água Formosa Schist Village, belonging to the Vila de Rei municipality and located in a valley next to the banks of the Galega river, is characterized by a cluster of schist houses separated by narrow streets. In recent years, the village has been developing through the restoration and construction of many houses and the paving of the streets. Besides the high interest of the natural landscape, the gold-washing sites are also worth mentioning, witnesses of ancient gold mining operations dating back to the Roman occupation. Being Água Formosa the closest Schist Village to Lisbon, it can be considered the true gateway to the mysterious and surprising schist territory. Água Formosa hosts a riverside gallery of great beauty, where alders, poplars, and willows stand out, in harmony with other species characteristic of the Mediterranean flora, such as strawberry tree, myrtle, shrubby broom, silk cotton tree, Brazilian pepper, rosemary, rockrose, seaweed, and leadwort. Along with this flora, the surrounding area also presents a set of vegetation associated with remarkable rocky outcrops, as well as that found near the weirs, watermills, and irrigation channels along the entire Galega River. Regarding the fauna, we can find the emblematic common kingfisher as well as the shy red squirrel that has found excellent conditions here for its habitat. The whole site offers excellent conditions for birdwatching.

Gastronomy

- Fish Soup

- Migas

- Maranhos

- Stuffed Pork Stomach

- Roast Kid Goat

- Codfish à Cobra

- Portuguese Stew

- Sausages

- Tigeladas

Roadbook

The Água Formosa Schist Path – The Discovery of the Rivers uses the old paths of the millers and farmers who, in a recent past, led to the watermills and surrounding bushes of the Galega and Valada rivers. Leaving the Água Formosa Schist Village, we walk along the Galega River following this beautiful watercourse upstream. Along the path, we pass a fountain still used by the local population and some sizeable rocky outcrops. Further on, next to the water line, we follow an irrigation channel that takes us to a weir where the ruins of a watermill can be seen. The path always follows the river leading us to an old olive oil mill that served the local population. From this point until the village of Vilar Chão, the route goes under a pine forest patch, but always with the Valada River nearby. Following the old path that joined Vilar Chão and Água Formosa, we also find another fountain before taking the path we had already traveled to return to Água Formosa. This Schist Path is a circular route, more or less flat, with 7.43 km and small slopes accessible to visitors. In every corner, you will find strong reasons to enjoy a nature that invites contemplation.

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PR4VLR Água Formosa Schist Path The Discovery of the Rivers

Coordinates

39.634834, -8.098866

DMS

39°38'05.4"N 8°05'55.9"W

UTM

29S 577329 4387616

w3w

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Localization

Parts of this content were machine translated from Portuguese.

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Status

Open

Difficulty

easy

Overall difficulty

easy

Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

Distance

6.8 km

Duration

2:50 h

Ascent

97 m

Descent

111 m

Highest point

326 m

Lowest point

220 m

Round trip

Weather at the starting point

10-day forecast

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6 Waypoints

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