モンタレグレのおすすめMTBライド

Minimum altitude: 760 m Maximum altitude: 1,425 m

The Xertelo Wolf Pit is a community stone trap located in the parish of Xertelo, Montalegre, and is part of the Peneda-Gerês National Park. This historic V-shaped structure with a well at the apex was used to capture the Iberian wolf, which threatened livestock, channeling it through its granite walls for a final fall. Today, the Xertelo Pit is a symbol of local history and culture, preserved as a heritage site.

The Monastery of Santa Maria das Júnias is a ruined monastery, of which the church remains, located on the outskirts of Pitões das Júnias. The last Cistercian monk became the parish priest of the village of Pitões das Júnias in 1834, the date of the abolition of religious orders in Portugal. As a historical curiosity, it is worth noting that Dom Pedro de Pitões, one of the main drivers of the conquest of Lisbon from the Moors in 1147, was ordained bishop of Porto at this monastery.

Carvalhais, in the municipality of Montalegre. Here is his video: https://youtu.be/TNJBrWACbno

Montalegre is a mountain town, characterized by rugged and uncontaminated landscapes. The medieval castle dominates the landscape and in the surroundings there are prehistoric dolmens that keep alive the link with the past.

This is a church that reflects the traditional architecture of the region, often characterized by simple but robust elements, in line with the surrounding rural environment.

Hidden in the heights of Pitões das Júnias, the ancient monastery of Santa Maria carries centuries of history in the stones that support it. It is believed that its origins date back to the 9th century, in the middle of the Reconquista era, before Portugal was born as a kingdom. Officially, however, it was founded in the 12th century under the auspices of the Benedictines, and later embraced the austerity of the Cistercian reform. Today, among the silent ruins, the modest side portico of the church and the delicate arcades of the cloister remain.

The monastery of Santa Maria de Pitões das Júnias has roots that are believed to date back to a period before the founding of the Kingdom of Portugal, in the 9th century, during the Christian Reconquest. However, it is certain that it was founded in the mid-12th century, initially under the Benedictine Order, later adhering to the Cistercian reform. Notable remains of its original design still remain, such as the simple side portico of the church and the discreet arcades of the cloister, now in ruins.