Espírito Santo Chapel (b)

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The route is located in the Alto Côa slopes in the Serra da Malcata Nature Reserve. Starting at the Coa river waterfront, takes advantage of rural roads and old trails with areas of oak forest and pastures across a landscape, now long abandoned, but shaped over time by the use of fire, grazing and plow, which are mixed oak and thickets with lameiros (meadows), rye crops and some maritime pine spots. This mosaic is habitat for species such as the wild cat and the rabbit, which is part of the diet of several birds and carnivores occurring in this region. In the lower areas you can often see flocks of crows to feed on the fertile land. The lameiros (meadows) and genista areas are grazed by cattle in the villages of Quadrazais and Vale de Espinho, belonging to the county Sabugal. The oak areas, on the other hand, represent an important place of refuge for different animal species and play an important ecological role in the ecosystem in which they operate for protecting, fertilize and recover the soil, regulate the runoff water and contain fires, one they are resilient to fire. In summer it is a cool track and, in winter, has the attraction of hot oak colors. The visitors can also learn something more about the Quadrazais smuggler slang, the pilgrimage of the Espírito Santo chapel and the Coa mills. Half of the route coincides with part of the Grande Rota do Vale do Côa (Great Route Coa Valley).