PR11 TBR - Trilho das Silhas dos Ursos

The Trilho das Silhas dos Ursos route takes place on one of the slopes of the Gerês fault valley, focusing on beekeeping and rural archaeology. The landscape is marked by steep slopes covered with shrubland, water lines, small woodlands of oak, birch and holly, as well as high-altitude meadows associated with glacial, fluvial and slope deposits. Along the route, two Silhas dos Ursos stand out, stone structures built to protect beehives from bears. The first consists of a small stone wall built on top of a rocky outcrop, dating from the 15th/16th centuries, while the second features a circular structure attributed to the 16th/17th centuries. Inside the Silhas, cork beehives covered with thatched roofs were placed on small terraces. These structures were typically built on sheltered and sunny slopes, close to water and extensive areas of melliferous vegetation. Wildlife observation is frequent along the route, particularly bird species, with the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) being especially common.

Elevation gain: +259 m