Type: Linear Pedestrian; Distance: 11,6 Km
Average Duration: 2h35m (pedestrian) 1h00m (MTB)
At 22 km from Covilhã is the town of Vale Formoso, parish of Covilhã, with around 600 inhabitants. It is a parish with an ancient settlement, dating back to the Roman Period, as can still be seen in the remains of a sidewalk that connects Vale Formoso to Torre Centum Cellum. Until 1949 the place was called Aldeia do Mato, and later became known as Vale Formoso, due to its growing development.
The resident population’s main activities are fruit growing, construction and carpentry, handicrafts and small businesses. As they are a people of religious and popular traditions, they hold their annual village festival in mid-August, a date to be set each year, in honor of their patron saint Nossa Senhora da Saúde, in a chapel at the top of the hill. As a cultural heritage, we highlight the Igreja Matriz, the Community Oven, Manueline windows and the Fonte Velha . It also has a place of tourist interest – the viewpoint, from where you can appreciate all the surrounding natural landscape and the neighboring localities.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE
Leaving this location, GRZ crosses two access roads to villages on this hillside before entering the vocational school at Quinta da Lageosa. Keeping the direction, the route now approaches the town of Orjais even before crossing the EN 18 and passing to the left bank of the Zêzere. Leaving the tar again and following the river along the orchards, cross it again to find the Picnic Park in Borralheira de Orjais.
