Junqueira: Churches, Camino and PR5

Junqueira can be explored through a range of interests: the PR5 – Rota do Mosteiro da Junqueira is a rural route, while churches, monastic history and archaeological evidence offer other historical perspectives. If you are looking for a hotel in Junqueira, you can first decide whether landscapes, heritage or a particular event date will be the focus of your trip.

PR5, Landscapes and the Camino de Santiago

The PR5 – Rota do Mosteiro da Junqueira passes through agricultural fields, mostly planted with maize and bordered by stone walls. Maize cultivation and stone walls give the route two distinct features: they show both how the land is farmed and how the fields are enclosed.

One section of the PR5 follows the Camino de Santiago, the Caminho Português Central. The pilgrimage route is therefore a distinct aspect of the route; the maize fields and stone walls, by contrast, describe its rural surroundings.

Churches and architectural details

The present-day Igreja Paroquial da Junqueira dates from the 17th century. Its architectural features include two matching bell towers and a very tall oval stained-glass window above the portal. Together, the towers and window offer different clues for understanding the design of the parish church.

At the Capela de Nossa Senhora da Graça, the focus is on the interior: the nave is covered with blue-and-white tile patterns and floral borders. This also makes it possible to distinguish the two churches by their different design elements: the parish church draws attention to its bell towers and windows, while the chapel’s nave features tile patterns and borders.

Monastic history, tombs and historical accounts

The institution of the Mosteiro de São Simão da Junqueira probably dates back to the 10th century. The Mamoas do Fulom are another part of Junqueira’s history: they consist of two megalithic tombs discovered in the late 19th century. The dates refer to different things: the 10th century marks the presumed early history of the monastic institution, while the late 19th century refers to the discovery of the tombs.

The engraving “Truta de Chantada” is a bas-relief said to depict a life-size trout. The trout was reportedly caught by Morgado Bento José Rodrigues d’Oliveira in 1819 in Chantada, by the stream of the same name. Alongside the buildings and tombs, this is a story associated with a person, a year and a specific place.

The Estalagem das Pulgas was once an inn where travellers along the northern coast could rest and pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago could take a break. Its former role adds the context of travel and rest to the area’s other historical themes.

Annual camellia show

The “Exposição de Camélias em Flor” has been held annually at Quinta Vilar de Matos in Junqueira since 1994. Unlike the churches and tombs, it is a recurring event. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the dates in advance; this allows you to factor the event into your travel plans without treating it as one of the year-round cultural and landscape attractions.

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