PR3 IDN - Fossil Route

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit and the Pillory are some examples. Following are the Mother Church and the Castle. And it is from here that one begins to glimpse the source of natural beauty. To the north, the cliffs that surround the narrow valley of the Pônsul River and, to the south, a gentle undulating landscape as far as the eye can see, from which the Monsanto hill stands out.

From the castle, the path proceeds toward the dam, crossing the slopes where the first examples that give the route its name begin to appear. Everywhere, the slopes reveal fossils of creatures from the Paleozoic era, when the region was... a seabed.

Having crossed the dam and following the bed of the Pônsul, you will find a group of old rotary mills, some restored and open for visits. Currently, this collection of historical technology examples represents part of what was the largest group of milling units in the Idanha-a-Nova municipality and is an important museological nucleus of an activity intended to be revived. This historical context brings us to the present through bread, a highlight of Penha Garcia's gastronomy.

From there to the starting point, the path intersects the GR12 E7 – Idanha Route, and the richness of the region in scenic and ecological terms, responsible for the Biotope classification of the Serra de Penha Garcia, is evident.

Given the just over three thousand meters of length and little accumulated elevation, the Fossil Route is the ideal route to do before or after enjoying the local gastronomy. It can be done at any time of year and has a low level of difficulty.