The best walks and hikes around Carragosa

At this point, the trail invites you to embark on a little adventure: crossing the bed of a stream on the Baceiro River. When the rain lets up, the crossing is easy. And with a touch of excitement!

Along the Baceiro River, three community-run mills still stand, two in Vilarinho and one in Cova de Lua. This is one of them, a living relic of local ingenuity, which uses the power of water to grind grain and tell stories of a time when sharing and ingenuity went hand in hand.

Hidden in the Montesinho Natural Park, Poço Negro is a secret gem of Bragança: a small lagoon with crystal-clear waters, fed by a delicate waterfall from the Sabor River.

This dirt track winds alongside the Sabor River, which flows through a valley covered in green alder, ash and poplar trees. All around, immense cliffs rise up like natural walls, making you feel tiny amidst the grandeur of the landscape.

In the heart of the Montesinho Natural Park, Praia Fluvial de França stretches out peacefully along the banks of the Sabor River. Unsupervised, but perfect for a peaceful swim, it is also the ideal place for picnics, with a welcoming and well-equipped picnic area. A simple yet charming retreat.

Vilarinho is located 16 km northwest of Bragança, within the Montesinho Natural Park. It belongs to the parish of Espinhosela, which includes the villages of Terroso and Cova de Lua. An autonomous parish and a leaseholder of the king in the Inquisitions of 1258, it was taxed by D. Dinis at 70 pounds per year to fund the war against the Moors. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the College of Jesus of Bragança held heritage assets here. Both the main church of São Cipriano, built within the village, and the Chapel of Santo Amaro, located 1 km southeast, on a hill of 819 m, have existed for centuries. The current Chapel is located in an ancient and fortified Iron Age settlement, with attested archaeological remains. It was later Romanized and Christianized. In the mid-16th century, the Temples were in a deplorable state in terms of sustainability and dignity. In 1699, with the facade in ruins and the doors open, it was decided to demolish the Chapel and use and sell materials to renovate the Church.

Located in the Montesinho Natural Park, at an altitude of over 1000 metres, in the municipality of Bragança. Completely restored but still genuine, it consists of several houses that maintain the traditional architecture of Trás-os-Montes, built in granite with slate roofs and wooden balconies, a place of cosiness. The walking tour, which is around 10km long, takes you along trails that also include the villages of França and Portelo. It is a visit of contrasts, where the green of the pastures mixes with flowers of all colours and the red of the woods.

The Montesinho Natural Park covers an area of approximately 75 thousand hectares and is located in the Terra Fria Transmontana region, in the extreme northeast of Portugal, bordering the Spanish communities of Galicia and Castile-Leon. It covers the territories of two municipalities, namely Bragança and Vinhais. As a curiosity, you should know that there are more than 90 villages within the Montesinho Natural Park and that the highest point in the park is the Serra do Montesinho, whose peak is 1,486 metres above sea level.