Location: Pitões parish of Junia, Montalegre municipality.

Access: Anjo – Encruzilhada – Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Pitões das Júnias – Levada de água – Miradouro da Cascata – Pitões das Júnias – Anjo.

Point of departure and arrival, Anjo.
Length: 3.5 km.
Duration: about 1h: 30min.
Difficulty: medium.

More information about the Trail: Leaflet in English - http://www.icnf.pt/portal/turnatur/resource/docs-ap/pnpg/leaflet/pitoes-ing

The Monastery of Santa Maria of Junia located around Pitões of Junia, in the parish of the same name, Montalegre municipality, Vila Real District, Portugal.

This convent dates back to an ancient pre-Romanesque hermitage, founded in the ninth century, which it followed the insulation criteria. You are in a narrow valley, inaccessible and far from roads and inhabited places, inscribed in a grand landscape background.

The current monastery and its temple were built during the first half of the twelfth century, even before the founding of the nation. It was then occupied monks of the Order of Saint Benedict. In the mid-thirteenth century, the monastery started to follow the rule of the Cistercian Order, been added to Oseira Abbey in Galicia. Over the centuries, this monastery was enriched with obtaining land in the Barroso region and Galicia. At the beginning of the fourteenth century, met maintenance and improvement works which highlights the construction of the cloister and the expansion of the chancel.

In the early modern period works were carried out lifting some dependencies of the convent and chapel of the temple, however destroyed by siltation caused by flowing brook at the head of it. In the first half of the eighteenth century, the church was restored at the level of the timber and lajeamento and redecorated with gilded altarpieces. From the middle of this century, however, began to fall into decay and eventually lost monks and income. With the extinction of the male religious orders (1834) his last monk began to play the Pitões pastor function. In the second half of the nineteenth century, a devastating fire led to ruin many of the convent buildings.

The SPa with historical references dating back to Roman times, as evidenced by coins found in excavations near the thermal springs, is the reign of King John V that build the first buildings for bathing, made of granite tanks housed in dens in Stone – The Wells.
In 1888 this estancia is visited by Their Majesties D. Luiz I and Maria Pia, D. Carlos I, then real Prince and his wife Maria Amelia. Only in 1897 starts the construction of the first establishment Thermal Geres.

In ancient tradition, references to Hydrotherapy in this area date back to the Romans but only in Sec XVII was built the first establishment Thermal Geres. With the newly renovated building, with modern thermal equipment and techniques, it is especially recommended for liver treatments, gallbladder, obesity, diabetes and hypertension, the Gerês spa also provide specific programs for dietary rehabilitation, weight loss, physical and psychological relaxation, physical recovery and anti-stress.
It is a result of the publication, by Dr. Ricardo Jorge, of several books about the effectiveness of Geres Water in the field of curing liver disease, Gallbladder, Hypertension, Diabetes and Drop, Rheumatisms chronic and Obesity, the exceptional properties of these waters have been widely disseminated.

The effectiveness of Medicinal Geres Aguas combined with constant concern in the modernization of its infrastructure and the qualification of its technical balneotherapy and physiotherapy in the creation of the new Nutrition Center as well as the existence of long term follow up are one of the Geres Spa Resorts busiest in Portugal.

Today the Thermal Establishment, refurbished and re-equipped, and the new Thermal Spa, are equipped with the most modern thermal techniques and bem.estar, allowing to meet the expectations of Termalistas that attend, and also adapt to the growing demand in the area of ​​health tourism, Beauty & Wellness. Thus the establishment creates new provision, which highlights the dynamic pool, showers of Cuba, spraying and Sequential 3 essences and still a vast area of ​​Massage enclosures and thermal aesthetics and a modern gym.
Adjacent to the Thermal Establishment were also created several areas of services and trade. All this modernly built together today constitutes a large Tourist-thermal complex located in the center of Thermal Resort Geres.

Al in stone and based on several pillars with stone latticework and covered by pillars, ceilings and stone crosses of the same material.Do set the castle and the barns / granaries, you can see the mountains of Peneda Geres National Park and the Park national Baixo(Low) Limia, which together with the reservoir Lindoso, formed one of the most beautiful views.

Since the seventies of the twentieth century, they were classified as a national monument and performed his works and restoration, nowadays use for cultural activities promoted by the municipality, in the Peneda-Geres National Park and the Military Museum Lindoso Castle Porto

Like most of the mountains and hills of northern Portugal, the Serra d’Arga comes from granite outcrops, and all existing rocks are derived directly or indirectly from this plutonic igneous rock.

The mountain provides a landscape that enables us to see the Minho River, the Portuguese village of walks, as well as the Spanish provinces of Galicia.

The festival of St. John d’Arga, on 29 August, is the most characteristic and lived in the Alto Minho, with a strong power of attraction populations around. This is the path used since ancient times, across the Serra d’Arga we relive all the stories and legends that refer to it. It is a long way and going through a very rough area.

The middle of the slope of the Sierra and around are eight rural villages that still preserve the traditional architecture and some of the uses and customs of old. Are aggregated to Viana do Castelo municipalities, Ponte de Lima, Vila Nova de Cerveira and walks.

The Serra D’Arga with a total area of 4493 ha, is considered one of the most interesting natural areas in Portugal, housing a high number of species of fauna, flora and high value natural habitats, allowing their integration and classification in the European ecological network, such as Natura 2000.

The Serra Interpretation Centre d’Arga (CISA) is a structure of the Municipality of walks oriented to the development of environmental education activities, dissemination, enhancing and promoting environmental and cultural heritage of Serra d’Arga and to the nature tourism.

The CISA available to tourists, school community and other people, a diverse set of activities:

Interpretive paths pedestrian
Study visits
Workshops on environmental education
mini-library
Sale of promotional materials and local products

CISA Location

Located in a former home of the Forest Service in the parish of Low Arga, about 15 km from the village of Caminha, in Viana do Castelo district.

Business hours

Tuesday to Saturday:

Morning: 9:00 – 12:30

Afternoon: 14h00 – 17h30

Contacts

Serra Interpretation Centre d’Arga

Arga Low

4910-035 Arga Low

Tel: 258 721 708

email: cisa@cm-caminha.pt

The floristic diversity includes 823 vascular taxa that occur in 128 types of natural vegetation. The oak forests which are common throughout the park, are specifically concentrated in Ramiscal, Peneda, Gerês and Beredo river valleys. These forested are dominated by an alliance between the Pyrenean (Quercus pyrenaica) and English (Quercus robur) oaks, which themselves are differentiated among the lower altitudes and exposed flanks (the Rusceto-Quercetum roboris) and those oaks with Atlantic characteristics (Myretillo-Quercetum roboris). The first association are commonly found with English oak (Quercus rober), Cork oak (Quercus suber), Butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus), Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) and Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica), while the second association unites the English and Pyrenean oaks with Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) and European holly (Ilex aquifolium). In upper altitudes there are patches of English oak that enter into their own association (Holco-Quercetum pyrenacia), which is integrated into another group (Quericon robri-patraea). These oaks have been, over the course of human settlement, the object of intense use, resulting in a general degradation of the spaces into nothing more than shrubbery.

The bush and shrublands, which characterize the remainder of the spaces (74% of the park), are dominated by dwarf (Ulex minor) and European (Ulex europaeus) gorse andheather (Erica umbellata and Calluna vulgaris), with a mixtures of common juniper (Juniperus communis), southern heather (Erica australis) in the upper altitudes, while lower altitude bush includes cross-leaved heather (Erica tetralix), dwarf gorse (Ulex minor), Dorset heath (Erica ciliaris), common sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), pale butterwort (Pinguicula lusitanica), marsh violet (Viola palustris) and purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea).

Riparian and marshlands along the river courses are also sites of rare species of Chain ferns (Woodwardia radicans), Willow (Salix repens), Downy Birch (Betula pubescens), Deciduous shrubs (Spiraea hypericifolia), Portuguese Enchanter’s nightshade (Circaea lusitanica) and Angelica herbs (Angelica laevis).

There are 627 flora species identified by Serra and Carvalho (1989) as under pressure and considered endangered, which included two medicinal plants: Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum) and Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia). Based on the protection list of botanical species, and UICN categories: 18 are considered in risk of extinction, 17 are vulnerable and one is rare. They also identified two species as extinct within the park boundaries: a Geranium (Geranium lanuginosum) and Fragrant orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea). There are three endemic species. Those factors that have been identified that threaten these habitats include: natural and manmade fires, use of forest for fuel wood and agricultural use of habitats.

]]> https://www.minho.theperfecttourist.com/?feed=rss2&p=3247 0 https://www.minho.theperfecttourist.com/?p=3243 https://www.minho.theperfecttourist.com/?p=3243#comments Sat, 18 Apr 2015 11:29:26 +0000 http://minho.theperfecttourist.com/?p=3243 The park tries to simultaneously encourage and control tourism, since the park’s nature would not resist a massive flow of tourists. Accordingly there are six small camping sites and several hikingtrails are marked, making it relatively easy to find many of the most interesting spots, such as the castros at Castro Laboreiro and Calcedónia and the monastery at Pitões das Júnias. The trail at Mézio as a particular concern in describing some of the local features.

Locations near the few major roads are the most visited. Many of them are related to the strong religiousness of the people in northern Portugal namely the shrines at Senhora da Peneda and São Bento da Porta Aberta. Others, such as Soajo and Lindoso, display small, traditional granaries built of granite, the espigueiros (from the Portuguese espiga, meaning spike).

Probably the two most known and visited features are the many waterfalls, mostly the one near the old frontier station at Portela do Homem, and the Vilarinho das Furnas village, whenever the Vilarinho das Furnas Dam is low enough.

Two domestic animals also deserve being noted. The Barrosão ox, once used in agriculture, is nowadays endangered because it is losing its utility; as is also the Castro Laboreiro dog, a hunting dog.

Barrosã Ox

The Barrosã race is distinguished from others by its considerable armor, extending almost vertically and lyre-shaped, as well as for its harmonious forms and the flesh of unparalleled characteristics.

Although it must its name to the plateau Barroso, began its expansion in the Minho, where almost replaced the Galician, and even people municipalities such as Maia and Porto.

We are facing a race of dual release, work and meat, the latter undoubtedly a more promising future, with the sale of “Barroso Meat” – DOP, as certified product.

Inserts are mainly in two geographic areas: Minho and Barroso. It can be said that this is a perfectly adapted animal to hill farming areas, where it plays an important role, allowing work on tiny plots, do the same fertilization with manure and optimum use of existing natural food resources that would otherwise be wasted.

 Castro Laboreiro Dog

The Castro Laboreiro dog has a true devotion and passion for the owner and a remarkable innate distrust of strangers, these characteristics that make it an unquestionable and faithful guardian of people and goods.

It is an intelligent dog, learning easily. Establishes a strong bond with your family (human or not) who instinctively protects from all dangers. It has a great capacity for protection, which was found for hundreds of years in protecting flocks against all kinds of dangers.
Ever vigilant, thief and alert to possible dangers, approaching and pursuing potential threats if needed.
Humble, does not challenge the owner and is very tolerant of children and their pranks.

Milestones are structures in stone that the Romans put on the roads to mark the distance in a mile (miles).

The park was created on 8 May 1971 due to its national and international scientific interest, with the aim to protect the soil, water, flora, fauna, and landscape, while preserving its value to the existent human and natural resources. Education and tourism are also goals of the park.

Probably, because the Gerês mountains are an inhospitable place, the oldest signs of human presence date only from 6000 B.C. to 3000 B.C.;dolmens and other megalithic tombs remain interspersed within the region, including near Castro Laboreiro and Mourela. Human activities consisted of animal husbandry and incipient agriculture, and archaeological evidence points to the beginning of decrease in forest cover.

The creation of the National Park (completed under decree no. 187/71, 8 May 1971) envisioned a planning area of mountainous spaces, in order to conserve the environment, while permitting human and natural resource activities, which would include educational, touristic and scientific projects. At heart is the conservation of soils, water, flora and fauna, in addition to the preservation of landscapes within the vast mountainous region in the northwest of Portugal.

In 1997, Peneda-Gerês was included in the Natura 2000 network, and in 1999, designated a Special Protection Area for Wild Birds. Moreover it also encompasses an important area of natural forest, that integrates the European Network of Biogenetic Reserves, and is recognized as a National Park by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In 2007, it was accepted in the PAN Parks network that certifies the quality protected areas, according to rigorous criteria of nature conservation, cultural services and sustainability.