cortes do meio
We are located in the village of Cortes do Meio, the parish encompasses five villages, Cortes do Meio, Cortes de Baixo, Bouça, Ourondinho and Penhas da Saúde, which is a mountain village, located on the southern slope of Serra da Estrela, has been since 2019 registered as the Capital of Natural Pools, due to the numerous natural wells that can be visited and enjoyed.
Curiosities: in the village of Cortes do Meio the practices of agriculture and pastoralism are still practiced, activities that have marked the history of the village for many centuries, its own toponym coming from the pastoral huts in stone and thatched roofs where where the cattle were guarded and which were called “cuts”. In addition to transhumance and farming, the Cortanenses were the main suppliers of milk, goats, carqueja and coal in the city of Covilhã, and covered the entire route of about 17 kilometers on foot, something that took about three hours.
Patrimony
As this is a small village, Cortes do Meio still has some heritage of a varied nature, which you cannot miss during your stay with us, highlighting the church, the chapels and the fountain.
Tourist attractions
One of the things that you really cannot miss during your visit are the natural wells formed by the course of the Ribeira das Cortes, which have always been present in the locality, however only recently have they been taken as a place of leisure, as in ancient times they were used for little more than help to grind grain in the mills, to give water to the animals and for the tasks of the inhabitants.
The now named Capital of Natural Pools, Cortes do Meio, has a wide range of natural wells very close to its MOUNTAINS.
Certified Routes
The parish of Cortes do Meio has three certified routes, which give you the opportunity to get to know this natural territory better and enjoy the breathtaking landscapes as well as the customs of the local people, which are maintained until today. The Route of Bridges PR17 CVL, which is the closest to the hotel, the Route of Varanda dos Pastores PR14 CVL and the Granite Route PR13 CVL, have Penhas da Saúde as their starting point. https://www.responsibletrails.pt/pt/tour/caminhada/pr17-cvl-rota-das-pontes/61327336/#dmdtab=oax-tab3 ( ROTA DAS PONTES)
There is yet another route a few meters from the Serra Tourist Resort, but it is not certified. It is a short route of 236 meters called “Bread Route” and lasting 4 minutes. It is a route in line that starts at the mill and ends at the kiln in the village. When taking this route, it is possible to observe the path used daily by the ancestors who produced cornbread and bread.
Every Thursday, rye bread, wheat bread and cornbread are made, baked in a wood oven, made by two local people.
Covilhã – Snow City
The village of Cortes do Meio belongs to the municipality of Covilhã, which is the main gateway to Serra da Estrela. Located on the southwest slope of Serra da Estrela, Covilhã is one of the main urban centers in the interior of the country. The city has a centuries-old industrial tradition with extensive knowledge related to wool that is involved with the history of the city. Come and explore and discover the “Snow town of Covilhã”!
Historic Villages
They are a set of 12 historic villages (Marialva; Almeida; Piódão; Belmonte; Castelo Mendo; Castelo Novo; Castelo Rodrigo; Idanha-a-Velha; Linhares da Beira; Monsanto; Sortelha; Trancoso) that define an area that includes the Natural Park Serra da Estrela, Serra da Malcata Natural Reserve, Serra do Açor Reserve and Côa Archaeological Park, in total cover the territories of Beira Interior. These villages are generally built on high ground because they form a protective nucleus together with the population groups that settled in them. The exception is Piódão, which has no castle.
Belmonte
Monanto
Piódão
Castelo Novo
