PR9Ciradelha Trail

The short path to the top

This route leads to the finest viewpoint over Vinhais by the shortest way. There is no need to go down into the town or set aside a full day: the walk begins at the Parque Biológico de Vinhais and, a short while later, one arrives at the Alto da Ciradelha, with the entire town spread out below and the whole southern part of the municipality stretching away into the distance. In little more than three kilometres, three things come together that rarely do: a settlement more than two thousand years old, a breathtaking view, and a swing in the shape of a chouriça.

It is short, but it is not a stroll in sandals. There is a section of narrow path that demands attention, and it is this that earns the route its moderate difficulty rating.

Start and finish at the Parque Biológico

The route is circular and begins and ends at the Parque Biológico de Vinhais. It was designed for those staying there or visiting, who want a quick foray into nature — the kind that fits into a morning or a late afternoon, when the light over the town is at its best.

The Alto da Ciradelha

At the top of the hill, among rock outcrops and pine trees, lies the viewpoint. Vinhais spreads out below, street by street, with its vegetable gardens, olive groves, and chestnut woods all around, and beyond them the mountain ranges succeed one another to the horizon. A reading table helps put names to what one sees.

The Fortified Settlement of the Ciradelha

The viewpoint stands within a hillfort. Those who lived here during the Iron Age chose the site for the same reason that brings people up today: everything can be seen from here. The ruins are unassuming and reveal themselves only to those who seek them out, but the line of the wall that once enclosed the settlement can still be traced on the ground, and the excavations of 2008 uncovered a circular dwelling and Castro-culture pottery. A panel on site explains what the eye alone cannot read.

The path and the Baloiço da Chouriça

Between the hillfort and the Baloiço da Chouriça, the route follows a narrow, steep path with steps and a very slippery surface. It is short, but it calls for sturdy-soled footwear, free hands, and a steady pace — particularly in wet weather or when leaves are on the ground. The reward awaits at the end: the swing suspended over the valley, bearing the inscription Vinhais Capital do Fumeiro, and the photograph that everyone takes home. Those who wish to make a full morning of the Ciradelha can follow the PR3 · Caminho da Ciradelha, which climbs to the same summit from the town centre.