The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Côa

The Escadaria de Acesso ao Passeio Ribeirinho significantly shortens the walk for pedestrians between the path along the riverbank and the parking lot at the road bridge over the river. According to the Komoot map, you previously had to walk under the bridge to reach the top in a long loop. The stairs were rebuilt in March 2024 by the Município de Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo (the municipality), as the old structure was completely destroyed and abandoned. They consist of raised wooden structures resting directly on the ground. Barca d'Alva is a popular stop for Douro cruises, and these stairs facilitate the descent to the river quay and the walking path, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Douro, the bridge, and the surrounding gorges. They contribute to the revitalization of the place, which had lost importance since the closure of the railway line (the Linha do Douro) in 1988. Today, it is a highlight for nature lovers and photographers, especially at sunset.

The bridge was designed and built in 1955 by the renowned Portuguese engineer Edgar Cardoso. It is considered the first motorway bridge in the Portuguese section of the Douro River and is a concrete arch bridge with a length of approximately 300 meters. It is named after the Portuguese naval officer and colonial administrator Almirante Manuel Maria Sarmento Rodrigues, who served as governor of Guinea and Mozambique under the Salazar dictatorship and later became Minister of Colonies.

When it was closed in 1985, the region lost its direct connection; the bridge fell into disrepair for decades and was inaccessible for a long time. Only in recent years has the entire route been reopened to hikers and visitors as the "Camino de Hierro" (Iron Way). Crossing the bridge offers spectacular views of the Águeda Gorge and the terraced landscapes of olive, almond, and vineyards. Today, it is an industrial monument and also a tourist highlight in the Arribes del Duero Natural Park.

The bridge was built as an iron truss structure following the French school's model (inspired by Gustave Eiffel) and spans the deeply cut Río Águeda, approximately 250 meters long and about 20 meters high above the river. The supporting structure consists of riveted steel girders resting on massive stone piers. It was part of the cross-border connection between Spain and Portugal, connecting Salamanca to Porto. Due to its challenging topography—gorges, steep mountain slopes, and narrow valleys—the line was considered one of the most spectacular railway lines in Europe, with a total of 20 tunnels and 13 bridges, of which the Águeda Bridge was the most famous. It served as the gateway to the La Fregeneda–Barca d'Alva border station, where the crossing into Portugal took place.

The former railway bridge over the Río Águeda near La Fregeneda is one of the most impressive structures on the disused La Fuente de San Esteban – Barca d’Alva railway line (opened in 1887, closed in 1985).

San Martín was a village in the municipality of La Fregeneda (Salamanca Province) on the Águeda River, directly on the border with Portugal, which was abandoned. Starting in the mid-20th century, as in many peripheral areas, a strong rural exodus began here. This was exacerbated by the closure of the cross-border railway line La Fuente de San Esteban – Barca d'Alva (a spectacular route with 20 tunnels and seven bridges along the Águeda River). After its closure, the area lost infrastructure and jobs, and the remote hamlets were abandoned.

The Ponte de Santa bridge stretches over the Ribeira do Mosteiro. Beneath it, amidst the whispering water and the gentle warmth of the sun, you can rest on one of the large stone slabs that are spread out there, as if they were made to welcome travelers in need of rest. The scenery around you is pure enchantment: the schist slopes are torn apart by impressive quartzite outcrops that burst from the earth, erected in almost sculptural forms, a geological spectacle that is as intriguing as it is beautiful.

The Calçada de Alpajares winds through the landscape as a testament to times gone by: a medieval path, perhaps forged during the era of the first dynasty. For centuries, it was a very important route, especially until the beginning of the 20th century, before the Estado Novo roads redesigned the country's routes. This ancient route linked the north, the lands of Miranda, to the south, the Ribacôa region. Its original course approached the Douro River, descending to Freixo de Espada à Cinta, before heading along the slopes of the Poiares mountain range towards the village that shares the same name.