# Olive Oil Route

> This route unfolds at the pace of olive oil. It is not a countryside trail with a village at the end, but a circuit around Agrochão that brings together the olive press, the sanctuary and the olive groves in a single walk of under six kilometres — easy and unhurried.

URL: https://rotasdosdiabos.pt/en/percurso/rota-do-azeite

- **Activity:** Walking trail
- **Distance:** 5.7 km
- **Elevation gain:** 192 m
- **Elevation loss:** 184 m
- **Altitude:** 589–714 m
- **Estimated time:** 2h
- **Route type:** Loop
- **Best season:** Spring, Summer, Autumn
- **Code:** VNH_PPR21
- **Centre:** [Vinhais](https://rotasdosdiabos.pt/en/)
- **GPX:** https://rotasdosdiabos.pt/percurso/rota-do-azeite/export-gpx

**The olive oil culture**

This route unfolds at the pace of olive oil. It is not a countryside trail with a village at the end, but a circuit around Agrochão that brings together the olive press, the sanctuary and the olive groves in a single walk of under six kilometres — easy and unhurried. Here, unlike the northern part of the municipality, the landscape is not one of chestnut groves: it is the olive grove that dominates the parish and defines its character.

Agrochão has medieval origins, mentioned in the Inquirições of 1258 and granted a royal charter by D. Dinis in 1288, and it has more museums than many a town: the Museu do Azeite e Lagar Antigo, the Museu Etnográfico e Rural and the Museu de Arte Sacra.

**Agrochão**

The route is circular, beginning and ending in Agrochão, beside the Igreja Paroquial de São Mamede, with a café and a fountain nearby. The trail passes through the heart of the village along the Rua Direita, between well-kept traditional houses, and goes past the imposing Palacete da Família Sá Morais, once a prominent presence in the agricultural and cultural life of the region.

**The Museu do Azeite e Lagar Antigo**

This is where the process becomes clear — from olive to oil — before seeing it play out in the fields. It is located in the village, along the way, alongside the Museu Etnográfico e Rural and the Museu de Arte Sacra, next to the church.

**The Santuário do Divino Senhor da Piedade**

The sanctuary is the highest point of the route, at around 710 metres, and offers a panoramic view over the village and the olive groves. It lies approximately two kilometres from the centre, at the far end of the section that heads out into the fields.

**The olive groves**

Between the sanctuary and the village, the olive groves of Agrochão are traversed along well-maintained agricultural tracks, with no difficulty, the lowest point of the circuit sitting at around 590 metres. It is a route that combines walking, culture and gastronomy in a single day. Those wishing to continue through the southern part of the municipality will find the PR19 · Soutos de Celas, another gentle circuit where the olive grove gives way to the chestnut tree.

## Quick answers

### How long is the Olive Oil Route route and how much climbing does it have?

5.7 km, with 192 m of elevation gain. It is a loop route.

### How long does the Olive Oil Route route take?

About 2h (estimated time).

### When is the best time to ride or walk the Olive Oil Route route?

Recommended season: spring, summer, autumn.

### Where does the Olive Oil Route route start?

The route belongs to the Vinhais centre.

### Is the Olive Oil Route route waymarked?

Yes, the route is waymarked on the ground.

### Where can I download the GPX for the Olive Oil Route route?

The GPX track is available at https://rotasdosdiabos.pt/percurso/rota-do-azeite/export-gpx.