PR XI - Trilho Rio Mouro

The PR XI - Rio Mouro Trail starts near the former primary school of Cousso, in the municipality of Melgaço. The route follows the Rio Mouro valley, crossing the villages of Cousso, Gave and Parada do Monte, through a landscape marked by the presence of water, granite slopes and terraced agricultural areas. The Rio Mouro rises in Lamas de Mouro and runs for around 30 km before flowing into the Minho River at Ponte de Mouro, in the municipality of Monção. Along this valley, the trail allows visitors to observe clear waters, well-developed riparian galleries and areas of great natural value, associated with the biodiversity of the riverbanks and the cool river environment. The landscape also reveals the long-standing relationship between local communities and the territory. Agricultural terraces, built on steep slopes, made it possible to grow maize, vine trellises and vegetable crops on difficult terrain, shaping the rural organisation of the villages nestled in the valley. In Parada do Monte, the area around the Chapel of Senhora da Vista and Senhor dos Aflitos, also known as Minhoteira, stands out beside the river. The route also includes boardwalks and a pedestrian bridge, reinforcing the connection between the villages, the valley and the riverside spaces of the Rio Mouro.