사워 최고의 워킹 & 하이킹 경로

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Star is sheltered by an impressive grotto, which rises like a stone mantle over the temple. Once a simple cavity, it grew until it took on its current form. Inside, a staircase leads to the deepest grotto. And, at the top, a small viewpoint guards the image of Our Lady of the Star facing the sea, recalling the legend that says she guided a fisherman back home.

The Poio Valley stands as a well-kept secret of the mountains, preserved for centuries by its rugged, steep, wild, and inaccessible geography. Only shepherds and adventurers used to know these paths. Perhaps that is why a rare fauna found refuge here. It is one of the largest fluviokarstic canyons in Portugal, a valley patiently sculpted by water, which left monumental slopes and a breathtaking landscape. To the south lies Poio Velho; to the north, the more famous Poio Novo, two chapters of the same magnificent landscape.

✨ Circular route with landscapes of rare natural beauty; 🏞️ Lapiaz, dolines and unique rock formations in Portugal; 🌿 Buracas do Casmilo and Bosque do Vale dos Covões were the highlights of the day; 📸 Ideal for photography, geological observation and contemplation; 🍂 A perfect trail for autumn, with the valley painted in golden tones.

✨ Landscapes of rare natural beauty; 🏞️ Lapiaz, dolines and unique rock formations in Portugal; 🌿 Buracas do Casmilo and Bosque do Vale dos Covões are the highlights; 📸 Ideal for photography, geological observation and contemplation; 🍂 Perfect for autumn, with the valley painted in golden tones.

detail of one of the holes

The Vale dos Covões Trail is part of the route to explore the impressive Buracas do Casmilo. Most hikers start their adventure in the village of Casmilo, just a 30-minute drive from Coimbra. The landscape alternates between vast open vistas and trails shaded by dense forests, creating a diverse and captivating route.

The Lapiás do Casmilo are an impressive geological formation carved by water erosion over limestone. Known as "stone cemeteries", they emerge from the karst landscape of the Buracas do Casmilo valley, creating a landscape of exposed rocks, full of grooves and sharp edges. Time and water have shaped this unique relief, infiltrating the rock and creating striations that reveal the path of the runoff. In steeper areas, the marks on the stone become even more evident, testifying to the power of nature in this mineral spectacle.

Excellent view from a height for many kilometers