PR1 CVD Percurso pela serra de S. Paulo

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The path begins at Castelo de Vide near N. Sra. dos Remédios Church, following a gently descending pathway until it crosses the water courses that will form São João River. Leaving the urban area we stay on the path, climbing up the northeastern slope of São Paulo hills. Then we notice the misalignment of the quartzite outcropping, evidence of a geological fracture with an oblique slip. The view over the village increases step by step. Santa (holly) Fountain is a perfect place to rest and enjoy the landscape. From here the path will follow a very well preserved section of a medieval stone-paved roadway which leads us to the culmination of the journey: N. Sra. da Penha Chapel . There see the landscape, from west to east and to distant horizons. We resume the path downhill by the municipal road, but soon we will arrive to an old medieval stone-paved roadway that will lead us to Alminha of S. Paulo. In a gentle descent we reach the Nova (new) Fountain, next to the N246 road. Carefully, we cross this road and continue until we see São João River, which is no longer the trickle of water we saw at the beginning of our walk. Here the last climb will bring us back to Castelo de Vide centre. WILDLIFE: Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus), Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochrurus), Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus - Feb. to Sept.), Blue Rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor) and Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata). Also 2 amphibians endemic of the Iberian Peninsula: Iberian Newt (Lissotriton boscai); and Iberian Frog (Rana iberica). HERITAGE: castle, Jewish Quarter and Synagogue of Castelo de Vide; St. Roque Fort; and Church of Santa Maria da Devesa. Craft: embroidery; talegos (embroidered bags linen); art of working wrought iron, wood, cork and horn (miniatures); tiles; and weaving. CUISINE: sarapatel; cachafrito; molhinhos em tomatada (tomato sauce); alhada de cação; fígado (liver) à moda de Castelo de Vide; pezinhos de coentrada; and smoked sausages. Cakes: (boleima, broas de mel, enxovalhada - Traditional during Easter – and queijadas de requeijão).