Discover Novelas: Mills, Churches and the Rio Sousa

Those considering Novelas for a stay can base their decision on a range of interests: milling on the Rio Sousa, church architecture, sport fishing and a route described as rural each offer a different focus. When looking for a hotel, it helps to first decide what brings you on your trip. If your main interest is culture and architectural styles, other themes will take precedence than when planning around sport fishing or a walking route.

A mill experience on the Rio Sousa

The Moinho da Ponte de Novelas is located in the Ponte district of Novelas, on the Rio Sousa. Visitors can experience traditional milling for themselves and see and understand how the mill mechanism works. For travellers interested in crafts and technology, the appeal lies in taking part: milling becomes tangible not only through the building, but also through the activity and the mechanism. This gives the local milling tradition a concrete connection to a named place on the river. The experience offers insight into how a mill works and complements a stay that also includes an interest in cultural themes.

Church architecture and building history

The Igreja Paroquial de Novelas features a modernist architectural style. Its main façade has an axis of lobed openings; the complex also includes an open narthex. The broad nave is divided by pointed diaphragm arches. These features relate to different parts of the building: the openings are on the main façade, while the arches structure the nave; the open narthex complements the architectural design. This gives architecture enthusiasts a specific point of interest: the combination of the façade motif, the narthex and the division of the nave.

The Igreja do Divino Salvador was inaugurated on 17 August 1941. The present-day Igreja do Divino Salvador was built with stone quarried at Ribada Alta in Lodares, in the municipality of Lousada. An exact inauguration date and a specific source for the building material offer two different ways to explore the building’s history. Historically, the church had three altars. These formed part of the former interior furnishings, while the stone’s origin is a structural feature of the present-day building.

The Rio Sousa and sport fishing

Fishing for sport fishing competitions, as well as for training and instruction, is permitted year-round on the Rio Sousa. The regulation applies to the stretch extending 500 metres upstream and 500 metres downstream of the EN106 bridge in Novelas. The purpose and location are therefore clearly specified: the bridge serves as the midpoint of the described stretch, which extends 500 metres in each direction along the river. Travellers who include sport fishing in their plans can use this combination of purpose and clear boundaries as a guide. This makes the river a distinct reason to visit, alongside architecture and the mill experience.

A circular route through vineyards and fields

The Caminho pelo Vale do Sousa – Penafiel, Bustelo e Novelas is a 23.39-kilometre circular route. A user-submitted route entry, uploaded in 2021, describes rural paths and sections through vineyards and cultivated fields. Its circular layout, precise length and landscape features give the tour a clear profile. Unlike a focus on church architecture or milling technology, this route centres on a walk through an agricultural landscape. Its length provides a practical reference for planning. Check the trail conditions before setting out, as they may change.

The Ponte de Novelas

During the renovation of the Ponte de Novelas, the pedestrian area was extended with a metal structure. The bridge adds an infrastructure aspect to the themes of church architecture and milling technology. For travellers also interested in local structures, it offers a distinct perspective on the design of the pedestrian area.

Discover more destinations: Sebolido, Galegos, Figueira, Valpedre, Santa Marta, Canelas, Portela, Penafiel.

Go to the broader travel overview: Penafiel.