Aguiar Da Beira: Dolmens, Culture and Landscape

Dolmen I of Carapito, also known as Casa da Moura, is classified as a National Monument. It represents a particular focus in Aguiar Da Beira: megalithic sites, historic buildings and local culture can be combined here with orienteering courses and landscape routes. The themes you choose to focus on during your stay may therefore play a role when planning your days.

Dolmens and historic buildings

The municipal Dólmenes de Carapito route leads to three of the four dolmens of Carapito: Dolmen I, also known as Casa da Moura, and Dolmens II and III. The route description dates the dolmens to the Megalithic period, between 2900 and 2600 BC. The Carapito Megalithic Centre comprises four megalithic structures; archaeological investigations also support the assumption that human settlement in the region dates back at least to the 4th millennium BC. This brings both individual monuments and a longer regional history into focus within a compact thematic area.

In Aguiar Da Beira, the Trilogia Monumental brings together three National Monuments at Largo dos Monumentos. Individual buildings also have designated protection status: the Ponte Romana do Candal is also known as Ponte Portucalense and is classified as a Property of Public Interest. At Fonte Ameada, the water cycle has been restored, so water flows there again. These different features invite you to pay attention to names, buildings and their respective classifications as you explore.

The tourist office offers guided tours of Torre Ameada by prior arrangement. Torre do Relógio is listed as having three accessible floors; if you are planning to climb it, check access in advance. The towers are two distinct places to visit. The traditional Janeiras custom is also part of local cultural history: groups singing carols for Epiphany went from door to door through the villages and town after sunset from January 3 to January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany.

Orienteering and trails

There are several specific ways to enjoy orienteering. The permanent route in Gradiz is 4.7 kilometres long, with a total elevation gain of 145 metres. It starts beside the Nossa Senhora das Neves Church and runs through the village of Gradiz and the neighbouring woods. The stated route length, elevation gain and starting point help you plan for this route without assuming a walking time.

The permanent orienteering route in Dornelas can also be easily completed by people with reduced mobility, for example using a wheelchair, walking stick or forearm crutches. This statement refers specifically to the Dornelas route. Paper maps for Aguiar da Beira’s permanent orienteering courses are available from the tourist office, town hall, library and sports complex.

Aguiar da Beira first hosted the Mediterranean Championships in Orienteering in 2014. The event counted towards the world rankings and the Portuguese Cup; 950 athletes from 50 countries took part. This is a dated snapshot of the history of orienteering in the area, while the permanent courses are a separate consideration for planning a trip today.

Landscape, water and seasonal events

The Percurso do Dão runs along shaded riverside galleries before continuing through farmland and past old watermills. The Dão rises at Barranha, in the parish of Eirado. Lago e Cascata da Cavaca is also listed as a point of interest along the Caldas da Cavaca route. These place and landscape names provide a reference for anyone who wants to plan their trip around the river, water and areas shaped by agriculture.

Two events with different dates on the calendar offer a taste of local food and culture: the Festa do Pastor e do Queijo da Serra takes place every year on the first Sunday in March in Mosteiro/Pena Verde. At the Certame Gastronómico do Míscaro, the Míscaro mushroom takes centre stage in the food offering and at participating local restaurants on the last weekend of November. If either festival is important to your stay, plan around the stated date.

Choosing where to stay

There is a public transport network throughout the Municipality of Aguiar da Beira. Public routes 200, 201, 202 and 910 serve Aguiar da Beira and nearby places in the municipality: route 200 runs from Pena Verde via Dornelas to Aguiar da Beira; route 201 runs from Pena Verde via Dornelas and Eirado to Aguiar da Beira; route 202 runs from Pena Verde via Eirado to Aguiar da Beira; route 910 runs from Peroferreiro to Aguiar da Beira. Check the service details before travelling.

Once you have arranged your planned visits, you can search for a suitable place to stay based on your own itinerary.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Aguiar Da Beira, Pinheiro, Cortiçada, Eirado, Gouveia, Fornos De Algodres, Mêda, Celorico Da Beira.

For the overview of the wider area: Guarda.