The PR2 SBG - Cesarão Valley is a circular trail starting in Vilar Maior, in the municipality of Sabugal. The route crosses a landscape marked by the Cesarão River valley, old paths, small villages, riparian galleries, oak woods, scrubland and granite outcrops.
Vilar Maior is a settlement with ancient occupation and significant historical heritage. Among the main elements are the castle, the ruins of the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo, the pillory and the bridge, all classified as properties of public interest. The Vilar Maior Museum complements this reading of the territory, bringing together archaeological and ethnographic objects.
Along the trail, several traces of human occupation and former rural uses can be found, including sections of paved path, rock-cut graves, old winepresses, roadside shrines, abandoned watermills, stepping stones and stone footbridges. In the fields around the villages, traditional elements such as stone walls, narrow livestock barriers, wet meadows and structures linked to water use can also be observed.
The passage through Arrifana allows contact with a village whose rural architecture is still strongly marked by granite, with houses, external balconies and traditional buildings. In the area where the Alfaiates Stream meets the Cesarão River, the presence of weirs, channels, water conduits and waterwheels shows the importance of water in the agricultural organisation of this territory.
From a natural point of view, the riparian gallery along the watercourses and the areas of scrubland, oak woods and rocky outcrops stand out. The low human pressure favours the presence of several bird species, including the European bee-eater, hoopoe and booted eagle.
Between historical heritage, old paths, rural architecture and landscapes associated with the Cesarão River, this trail offers a complete reading of the relationship between Vilar Maior, Arrifana and the surrounding valley.
Type: Short Trail (PR) Loop
Distance: 9.4
Difficulty: Moderate (level 3)
GPS Coordinates: 40°28'25.9"N 6°56'19.4"W