THE LAND OF THE PLATEAU
To the North of the municipality of Oliveira do Hospital, one can elaborate a route that will take you to enchanted sanctuaries. Places that meet up with history, and where one can enjoy the unique moments of relaxation.
Still near the city of Oliveira do Hospital, you can hop over to the village of Bobadela, to see the infant child Jesus, playing with the dove of the Holy Spirit, at the villages mother church.
The Romans built in this location very important urban centres, around the I – IV Centuries A. D. (anno domini). The significant arqueological remains, which at the time was called "splendissimae civitati", still remain standding today. At the Pinheiro dos Abraços, 2km away from Bobadela, there is a dolmen, that sends back the population of the parish to the Neolithic Period. If you really want to travel back in time, without a doubt, one of the ex- libris of the parish, is the Roman Arch, made up of long stones marked with the sign of the fortex, possibly na entrance to a forum.
A special attention to the Roman Amphitheatre from the second half of the 1st Century, possibly destroyed by a fire in the IV Century, as suggests a layer of ash, deposited on the layer of coarse sand on the ground of tyhe roman arena.
In the parish of Ervedal da Beira, one can also find archeological remains, that testify the antiguity of the region. The Anta da Cavada, in Fiais da Beira; Anta do Vale Cerejo; at the Ponte de Andorinha and "Monte de Castro", at Póvoa de S.Cosme make us go back in history.
Go through the village of Fiais da Beira, to visit the straw-lofts or barns, that do not have a determined origin. They consist of a set of construction, of loose rock with hollow tile, and implanted in solid granite of a appreciable dimension, very well exposed to the sun. The straw-lofts are associated with the agricultural life of the area, producing and preparing cereals and in the preservation of products derived from them.
A trip to the Neolithic Period can be made to the north of the municipality, in the parish of Seixo da Beira. The pre-historic cultures are marked here by imponent megalithic monuments, locally called " Arcainhas", the dolmens of Seixo and Sobreda. Proof of past pre-historic man, do not leave us indifferent when we stop, for example, next to the Anta da Sobreda or "Curral dos Mouros". Classified as a property of public interest, the state of conservation is reasonable and easy acess by a dirt path, 850m away from Sobreda.
Also of public intetrest is the Anta da "Arcainha" at "Carvalha", 1km away from Aldeia Formosa, also known as Casa das Mouras or Lapa de Linhares. There, existes legends associated to the construction, of which sheltered nanny-goats and young bulls of gold. In a good state of conservation, it is difficult access with steep slopes. But since when has the hunt for gold been easy? ;o)
A set of rupestral alters charicterize this parish. You can start off by the rupestral alter or sanctified rock, situated on an elevation next to various granite blossoms at "Boiça", about 1,5 kms away from Aldeia Formosa. This alter presents rock workings in various forms, with visible canals or gutters. It is in a good state of conservation, but of difficult access by a dirt road.
Another rupestral alter, of easy access, is the one situated in the middle of a pine-wood, the "Tapadinhas". It is in a good state of conservation and in it, one can observe a type of small press with a canal.
The rupestral alter or sanctified rock of "Vale de Fiãs", about 1 km away from Aldeia Formosa, is placed also on a elevation next to a granite blossom, and presents a type of press at the top, and a canal, or furrow, accompanting the slope of the rock. The state of conservation is not very good and is of difficult access.
Not to be missed in this Neolithic journey, is the Mamoa, situated 10m away from the dirt road of "Vale Verde", in Aldeia Formosa. Of unkown chronology, it is found in granitic ground, surrounded by pine trees, eucalyptus trees and triping vegetation. It is turned to a spring and has a chamber and hall in a reasonable state of conservation. The tomb stones carved into the rock, in the pine wood of "Fonte do Rei", Sobreda, and on the way to Seixo by Vale Torto, are yet of compelled visit.
When the weather is nice, stop for a while at the natural terrace, designated by a windmill, and is next to the geodesical mark, at an altitude of 399m, at Seixo da Beira.
If it suddenly starts to rain, you can always run to the Natural shelters, that have been used through time, for temporary shelters by shepherds and hunters, as is the case of Cova da Noiva or "Cabeça do Mouro", partially destroyed for the expolitation of the rock, on the road Seixo-Felgueira, about 1km away from Seixo da Beira. There is still the "Pedrigoto", a shelter that is under enormous granite rocks, that are 9ms high and have about 50ms in diametre, divided into three chambers and is about 840m away from Seixas.
On your way back to the municipality, take the opportunity to go by the village of Meruge, known as the land of the "Lage Grande". A rock of great proportions, where in the past the corn was thrashed, now used as a stage for festivals.
In the parish of Lagos da Beira, there are also six Tombstones carved in the granite blossoms. There are still remains of a Neolithic " Village", with a set of seven different dimensions, vertically in two rock blossoms, in mushroom shape and still a granite structure similar to a Neolithic menhir.
Translated by: David A. Fidalgodavidjs900@yahoo.com