GR 15 Grande Rota do Guadiana

Share Image

The Lower Guadiana marks the border between Portugal and Spain. Navigable between the mouth and Mértola, it was an important waterway, notably to transport the ore exploited in the mines of S. Domingos, from Roman times. In a region where water is scarce, this river and its tributaries are an attraction for wildlife and human beings. The Great Guadiana Route (GR15) is about 60 km long and covers the territory of Lower Guadiana in Algarve. The route crosses 3 municipalities (Alcoutim, Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António) and travels for 16 locations that represent the typical characteristics of the mountain, the barrocal and the coast, with the ex-libris of the territory: Guadiana, the great river of the south. GR 15 starts in Vila Real de Santo António and has a connection with Algarve Ecovia - a green corridor marked with 214 Km towards Sagres. The route continues to Castro Marim towards Monte Francisco, passing through the villages of Junqueira, Azinhal, Almada de Ouro, Alcaria, Odeleite, Foz de Odeleite and enter the northeastern municipality of Alcoutim, in the mountain village of Corte das Donas where begins going up the river, passing through the villages of Álamo, Guerreiros do Rio, Laranjeiras and Montinho das Laranjeiras just to the belvedere at Pontal. GR15 keeps going to the village of Marmeleiro and, finally, Alcoutim, with a connection to Via Algarviana (GR13 - with a length of 300 km and connecting Alcoutim to S. Vicente cape, crossing 11 municipalities in Algarve). Landscape, heritage, ethnography, gastronomy, physical activity and fresh air are the secret of this great route that consolidates the pedestrian routes in Lower Guadiana, approaching the coast to the interior. Feel the aAdventure in Lower Guadiana trails! Note: until the thirteenth century, Guadiana was called Ana. In Arabic, river was uádi, resulting Odiana. The Castilian language has turned w uádi into Guadi resulting in Guadiana.