The best road cycling routes around Robleda-Cervantes

a spectacular area for nature sports

Rio de Onor is not just a beautiful village; it's a "living museum" of a way of life that has almost disappeared in Europe. It's worth visiting because it is possibly the village with the most fascinating social history in Portugal. Here are the 4 main reasons to go there: 1. It's a Community Village ("Communitarianism") This is Rio de Onor's great trademark. For centuries, the village lived under a system of total sharing among neighbors, something very rare: Sharing of Goods: The bread oven, the watermill, and even the village bull belonged to everyone. The "Rod of Justice": Decisions and fines for infractions in the village were marked on a wooden rod, managed by the "judge" elected by the people. You can see this history explained at the Casa do Touro (House of the Bull), a small, unmissable museum in the village. 2. One Village, Two Countries Rio de Onor is a village bisected by the international border. On this side is Rio de Onor (Portugal); on the other side is Rihonor de Castilla (Spain). For the inhabitants, the border never really existed: they share land, livestock, and even speak their own dialect (Rionorês), an ancient mixture of Portuguese and Castilian. It's very curious to cross from one country to the other on foot in the middle of the main street. 3. The Schist Landscape and Nature Located in the Montesinho Natural Park, the village is visually stunning. The houses are made of dark schist with wooden balconies, typical of Trás-os-Montes, and are very well preserved. The Onor River, which crosses the village, has clear waters and creates a very pleasant natural river beach in the summer, perfect for picnics. 4. The "Roman" Bridge The old stone bridge (which is actually from the 19th century, despite its popular name) is the village's postcard image. The reflection of the arches in the water with the schist houses in the background creates one of the most photogenic landscapes in Northern Portugal. Visiting Rio de Onor is like stepping back in time and understanding how communities survived in isolation in the mountains, supporting each other. It's a lesson in life and history in an incredible natural setting.

The view of Lake Sanabria from the Neveira Viewpoint is one of the most spectacular in the natural park. This viewpoint is located near the Monastery of San Martín de Castañeda, on a route that combines history, nature, and breathtaking panoramas.

Rio de Onor is a sleepy little village right on the Portugal/Spain border. The drive through it is a challenging one and absolutely not recommended for larger campervans.

Small village in the Montesinho National Park. From here you can follow the old levadas to the river and there is also an excellent river beach...

Rio de Onor is one of the most emblematic villages in Bragança and the Montesinho Natural Park, and was elected the 7th Wonder of Portugal in 2017 – a village in a protected area. Crossing the border with Spain, on one side is Rio de Onor, and on the other, Rihonor de Castilla, which is why it is said to be “one village, two countries”!

The climb to Laguna de los Peces can be done by car, motorcycle or bicycle. Motor vehicles have parking available a few hundred meters before. It is always open. In winter months you must ensure that the accesses are free of snow/ice. There are many cycling fans who ascend here after overcoming 17 km of moderate but continuous climbing. Mountain bikes can ascend to San Martín de Castañeda on roads, but the last kilometers must be on the road. The same happens for descent. It is advisable to bring warm clothing because it is almost always cold near the Lagoon. It is recommended that cyclists wear a vest to keep warm on the way down.

Built in the s. XV by the Pimentel family after taking control of the region, the fortress would witness the wars with Portugal in the s. XVIII and the War of Independence, when Portuguese soldiers would face the Serrar Division of the French army.