Category: Archaeology > Ensemble
District: Viana do Castelo > Melgaço > Coriscadas
Situated in the municipality of Melgaço, district of Viana do Castelo, in the locality of Coriscadas, the complex of Megalithic Monuments and Rock Art of the Castro Laboreiro Plateau covers a vast area of more than 50 square kilometres. This complex is found at altitudes exceeding 1100 metres, set within an imposing mountain landscape of great natural beauty that extends to the border with Galicia.
The elevated location of the plateau offers a unique perspective over the region, where the archaeological heritage blends harmoniously with the mountain environment, characterised by expanses of heather and granite, and watercourses that meander through the landscape.
The Castro Laboreiro Plateau is home to one of Portugal's most remarkable and extensive megalithic complexes, recognised as the northernmost in the country. It is composed of about 90 megalithic monuments, some of which are scattered across the Portuguese-Galician border. These structures, mostly built of granite, are testaments to a remote human presence, dating mainly from the fifth and fourth millennia BC. Some later constructions from the third millennium BC complement this vast chronological record.
The importance of this archaeological site was officially recognised in 2013, when it was classified as a Site of Public Interest, highlighting its inestimable value for understanding the first communities that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula.
In addition to the impressive funerary monuments, some of these ancient structures reveal the presence of rock art. Paintings and engravings, dating from the Bronze Age, adorn certain dolmens, offering a glimpse into the cultural and symbolic practices of the peoples who lived here millennia ago. These artistic remains, integrated into the megalithic context, are a distinctive feature of this archaeological complex.
The scientific exploration of this heritage began in 1978, with the first investigations conducted by the University of Minho. Later, in the 1990s, the Peneda-Gerês National Park and the Portuguese Society of Anthropology and Ethnology carried out additional interventions, contributing significantly to the knowledge and appreciation of this extremely rich archaeological site.
With the aim of enhancing and making this remarkable historical heritage accessible, the Megalithic Trail of the Castro Laboreiro Plateau was created. This trail, approximately 13 kilometres long, provides visitors with a unique opportunity for immersion in the landscape and history. The trail begins at Branda do Rodeiro and ends at Outeiro do Ferro, connecting some of the most emblematic megalithic monuments of the plateau.
Walking this trail allows one to closely observe the various types of monuments, feel the grandeur of the landscape, and imagine the lives of the prehistoric communities that left their mark here, in a natural setting that has remained largely unchanged over the millennia.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necrópole_Megalítica_do_Planalto_de_Castro_Laboreiro
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 42.07190748239635,-8.099436491961326
Coordinates DMS: 42°04'18.9"N 08°05'58.0"W
Weather Coriscadas
On-duty Pharmacy Coriscadas
