Xistopedia

A sea of mountains

A sea of mountains
villages and territory
Mountain ranges as far as the eye can see

The territory of the Aldeias do Xisto has a group of mountains divided into two blocks by the so-called “Zêzere Gap”, the river that separates and unites this area:

  • on one side the Serra do Açor (1418 m) and the Serra da Lousã (1204 m)
  • on the other side the Serra de Alvelos (1084 m), the Serra da Gardunha (1227 m) and the Serra do Muradal (915 m)

From the summit of any of them or from other high points, mountainous waves stretch to the horizon line, making you feel like you are on a tiny, lost island. When we travel along some roads we feel as if we are on board a small boat that it define the stormy waves. The wind towers stand out in the landscape and seem to correspond to the masts of fleets and armadas that trying not to sink beneath the waves.

The sea becomes rough as we catch sight of the quartzite ridges that seem to emerge at the top of certain mountain ranges: the Serra de São João, the Penedos de Góis, the Penedos de Fajão, the Serra do Vidual and the Estreito. When interrupted by water courses these quartzite formations give rise to major geomorphological accidents: the Fragas de São Simão, Senhora da Candosa, Garganta do Zêzere and the Portas do Almourão.

The River Ceira risers in the Serra do Açor, at an altitude of 1118m. 100km later, upon its arrival in Coimbra, it will flow into the Mondego. There are eleven Aldeias do Xisto within its drainage basin
The Alvoco and then the Alva, although they originate in the Serra da Estrela, are also fed on their left by the Serra do Açor. After meeting at the Ponte das Três Entradas (Três Entradas Bridge), the Alva will also meet the Mondego near Penacova. There are three Aldeias do Xisto within its catchment area.

The Zêzere enjoys the status of a great river, with a strong temperament, to which no riverside village remains indifferent.

Human beings did not want these rivers to run wild, as they have always done. In these valleys, dug out by the waters in a hurry to become streams and rivers, dams have been built to transform the force of the flow of the waters into electricity. So today, the tranquil surfaces of several reservoirs mirror the landscapes that surround them.
The Ceira only stumbles at the Alto Ceira Dam (1949). With the construction of the Santa Luzia Dam (1942), the Unhais stream ceased to roar in the gorge of the Serra do Vidual. The Cabril Dam (1954) took its name from the restriction of the Zêzere River near Pedrógão Pequeno. In the end, just as the Zêzere tries to break free and run wild again, the Bouca Dam (1991) captures and tames it. But not even the gigantic Castelo de Bode Dam (1951) is able to store the huge amount of water that these mountains produce.

These form an immense lake of about 6100 hectares, which is almost continuous.

A mountain of water containing 2 billion cubic metres of fresh water.

 

explore

restaurants
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
restaurants
Safra Restaurant
Safra Restaurant
restaurants
Bem Me Quer
Bem Me Quer
Martim Branco
restaurants
Fugas Restaurant
Fugas Restaurant
restaurants
Museu da Chanfana
Museu da Chanfana
Miranda do Corvo
restaurants
João Brandão
João Brandão
Oliveira do Hospital
restaurants
As Beiras
As Beiras
Pampilhosa da Serra
restaurants
Varanda do Casal
Varanda do Casal
Casal de São Simão
restaurants
D. Sesnando Restaurant
D. Sesnando Restaurant
Penela
lodging
A Boa Vida do Campo
A Boa Vida do Campo
Tábua
lodging
Aldeia Oliveiras
Aldeia Oliveiras
Proença-a-Nova
lodging
Casas de Água Formosa
Casas de Água Formosa
Vila de Rei
lodging
Casa Lausus
Casa Lausus
Talasnal
lodging
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Talasnal
lodging
Mountain Whisper
Mountain Whisper
Gondramaz
lodging
Casa do Talasnal
Casa do Talasnal
Talasnal
lodging
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Caldas de São Paulo
lodging
Casa Cova do Barro
Casa Cova do Barro
Janeiro de Cima
village
Comareira
Comareira
offer
Astrofotografia no Observatório do Porto da Balsa - 30 de julho
Astrofotografia no Observatório do Porto da Balsa - 30 de julho
tour
PR1 PPS - Fajão Schist trails  – Climbing the cliffs
PR1 PPS - Fajão Schist trails – Climbing the cliffs
Casas do Rio
heritage
Religious tour in Pedrógão Pequeno
Religious tour in Pedrógão Pequeno
tour
Mining Territory - Cabeço do Pião > Barroca - GRZ on Foot: Stage 2
Mining Territory - Cabeço do Pião > Barroca - GRZ on Foot: Stage 2
heritage
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
village
Benfeita
Benfeita
offer
Starlight Journey at the Geoscope (Fajão)
Starlight Journey at the Geoscope (Fajão)
heritage
Chapel of São Sebastião
Chapel of São Sebastião
village
Martim Branco
Martim Branco
tour
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Ferraria de São João (P4 - Black)
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Ferraria de São João (P4 - Black)
offer
Night Canoeing I Starlight Journey
Night Canoeing I Starlight Journey

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