The CR2 - Romanesque Path is a circular trail in the municipality of Lousada, starting and ending at Dr. Mário Fonseca Urban Park. With around 17 km, it crosses the parishes of Silvares, Pias, Aveleda, Macieira and Meinedo, linking several heritage elements associated with local history and the presence of Romanesque heritage in the territory.
Shorter than the CR1, this route still has a strong cultural component, crossing rural paths, urban sections, granite-paved roads and areas close to the Sousa River and the Ponterrinha stream. The landscape combines agricultural areas, inhabited places and riverside sections.
Along the route, several religious and civil heritage elements stand out, such as the Church of Salvador de Aveleda, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, Ponte de Vilela, the Chapel of St Bartholomew, Casa Grande de Vilela, the Church of Santa Maria de Meinedo, Ponte de Espindo and the Church of Pias.
The Church of Santa Maria de Meinedo and the Church of Pias reinforce the route’s connection to the religious heritage of the municipality, while the bridges of Vilela and Espindo recall the importance of old paths and the relationship between settlements and watercourses.
The CR2 is a shorter alternative to the CR1, maintaining the heritage setting of the Romanesque Paths and offering a shorter walk with cultural, rural and scenic interest.
Type: Marked Trail Loop
Distance: 17.2
Difficulty: Easy (level 2)
GPS Coordinates: 41°16'35.4"N 8°16'32.2"W