PR13 MTG - Beech Route

More than just a walking trail, this route is a sensory experience, where the scents of rosemary, wild mint, lavender, and thyme blend with magnificent scenes that surround the gaze of those who observe them.

Its name comes from the fact that this route dives into the interior of a dense beech forest, planted by the Manteigas Forestry Services in the early 20th century.

Besides this species, there are also noteworthy chestnut trees, brooms, Oregon pines, and the imposing monumental oaks that surround the Chapel of St. Lawrence, a place of worship with pagan reminiscences related to the adoration of trees and the Sun – at the summer solstice, those in Manteigas see the sun rise over St. Lawrence.

Landscapes and biodiversity of the Beech Route

The natural landscape stands out with the glacial valley of Zêzere, in a “U” shape, the Tower, the Thin Rock, the Fat Rock, and the Golden Rocks.

St. Lawrence offers a panoramic view of the accumulation of mountain ranges that extend to Spain. In the foreground appears the ridge of Lomba das Cancelas, which limits Beira Alta from Beira Baixa, and the Azinheira Hill.

Contact with rural and pastoral life is a constant throughout the trail, as it is used by shepherds to move their livestock to grazing areas, allowing possible interactions with those who travel the route.

The forest plantations, shrubs, and water lines along the way provide an enormous wildlife diversity. Notable are mammals such as the fox, the beech marten, the weasel, or the wild boar. Among birds, the kestrel, the owl, and the raven. Reptiles are represented by the horned viper, the wall lizard, or the sand lizard.