Candosa Hill Boardwalks

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Tourist Attraction

District: Coimbra > Góis > Cabril > Cerro da Candosa

Location

The Passadiços do Cerro da Candosa are located in the Cerro da Candosa area, in the locality of Cabril, belonging to the municipality of Góis. This notable site is part of the Parish of Vila Nova do Ceira and stands out for the imposing quartzitic rock formations that mark the landscape, rising above the Ceira River valley.

Its position offers a privileged perspective over the rocky gorge that culminates in the impressive Cabril river canyon, also known as Portas do Ceira, where the river seems to have carved its way through the rock.

The Route and the Landscape

The walkway route has an extension of just over 600 meters, totaling approximately 1.2 kilometers for the round trip. The structure, mostly made of wood, includes about 450 steep steps, skillfully anchored to the rock, which integrate into the gorge's topography. As you walk along the walkways, wide panoramic views open up over the Ceira River valley and the majestic Garganta do Cabril.

The Portas do Ceira and Nature

The highlight of the walkways leads to the Cabril river canyon, or Portas do Ceira. This place is the result of millennia of work by the Ceira River, which has eroded and shaped the rock, creating a gorge of remarkable natural beauty. Its steep rocky walls provide a wild setting, which attracts with its grandeur.

Stories and Traditions

Cerro da Candosa is historically linked to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Candosa, which stands atop the rocks. The top of the hill has been the setting for the Legend of Senhora da Candosa since time immemorial, a narrative of faith and divine protection. Further down, near Cabril, lies the Legend of the Two Roses, a story of forbidden love and tragedy associated with a cave and the river's waters. The construction of the walkways, inaugurated after the major fires of 2017, represented an effort to revitalize this area.

Natural Bathing

At the end of the route, at the base of the Garganta do Cabril do Ceira, a small dam forming a natural pool can be found. Its crystal-clear waters invite refreshing dips during the warmer months. It is a place of paradisiacal beauty, maintaining its wild essence, without supporting infrastructure.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt