the dizzying walkways of Góis

The Cerro da Candosa Walkways run through one of the most enigmatic places in the parish of Vila Nova do Ceira, in the municipality of Góis.

The quartzite cliffs where the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Candosa stands are part of the crest that crosses the entire region and extends between Serra do Penedo, better known as Penedos de Góis, and Serra do Bussaco.

The rocky gorge, which, over time, was weathered, washed and carved by the River Ceira, culminates in a river canyon of rare beauty – the Cabril or Portas do Ceira – where the river appears to have pierced a rocky ridge across. Portas do Ceira is one of the most beautiful natural treasures in the Centro Region.

Cerro da Candosa: 600 meters of emotions

With an amazing landscape as far as the eye can see, one end of the walkway descends the slope overlooking the valley where, in the background, the river flows along Vila Nova do Ceira.

To admire, take a deep breath or take that photo, you will find a wooden viewpoint in the middle of the escarpment.

The walkways of Cerro da Candosa are approximately 600 meters long. At the other end, the view is more spectacular, albeit with vertigo. We are talking about a huge cliff overlooking the river Ceira.

But the slope is such that at some points we just believe that the river is there. Because seeing him is almost impossible. Incidentally, the steep walls of the gorge are used for the practice of many extreme sports.

Myths and legends

The top of the hill has been linked to the history of Senhora da Candosa since time immemorial. According to legend, the Cabril strait separated two kingdoms: the Moor and the Christian.

The Moor called Al-Kandar on the left bank of the river Ceira, that is Candosa, and the Christian on the right bank. Well, a beautiful Moorish princess fell in love with the son of the Christian king, but the rivalry of the parents did not allow such a thing.

However, secretly, in a cave that still exists today, they arranged meetings at night. The signal would be a lighted lamp that was seen from the other bank by the Christian prince, who in turn crossed the river to the other side to meet his beloved.

But one night the Moorish king noticed that his daughter was missing and soon sent guards with horses to look for the princess. Hearing the trot of the horses, the young lovers tried to flee, but in their hasty flight, they fell into the river.

Only the next day they were found dead and embraced as if to say that they wanted to be together forever and that their love would be stronger than their parents’ rivalry.

From that day on, they say that every night of the full moon, at midnight, voices and murmurs are heard at the scene of the tragedy, and two roses are seen floating in the waters of the river.

Swings in Góis

If you are in Góis to do the walkways of Cerro da Candosa, you cannot miss the opportunity to visit the panoramic swings that the municipality has set up, ideal places to enjoy the landscape or take that selfie.

start with Naturally Góis, located in Rabadão, in full communion with nature. It is the ideal place to admire the sunset.

O Rocking Swing it is surrounded by the immense green of the Penedos de Góis, which, steeply, hide a swing with the same name, between the unevenness that it presents and the impetuous waterfalls and surrounding streams.

finally the Castle swinglocated in the heart of the village of Góis, in the castle park, offers a magnificent view over the local Historic Center.

Shale Villages

These are some of the best examples of the preservation of heritage, cultures and knowledge in Portugal. the entire project of Shale Villages gave new life to places that were thought to be dying.

Góis is also part of this project, housing in its territory four villages that make up this network: Aigra Nova, Aigra Velha, Comareira and Pena.

The Schist Villages of Góis are located in Serra da Lousã, with a privileged location, with easy access roads.

EN2 in Góis

Finally, in addition to Cerro da Candosa, you can also admire the route within Góis of the historic Estrada Nacional 2. The midpoint of this route, the mark 300, is in the municipality, more precisely in the parish of Alvares.

The EN2 crosses Portugal from north to south and is considered the longest road in the country, starting in Chaves, at km 0, and ending in Faro, at km 738.5 (originally, it would have had a total of 739.260 km, ending in downtown).

It passes through 11 districts (Vila Real, Viseu, Coimbra, Leiria, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Portalegre, Évora, Setúbal, Beja and Faro); 7 provinces (Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Beira Alta, Beira Litoral, Beira Baixa, Ribatejo, Alentejo and Algarve), 4 mountains, 11 rivers and 29 municipalities.