CRD06Round Montesinho

Two municipalities, one park

This route extends the network beyond the municipal boundary. It is not a loop around Vinhais but a supra-municipal circuit of 90.3 kilometres linking Vinhais to Bragança along the edge of the Parque Natural de Montesinho, returning through the interior of the park via Mofreita, Moimenta and the Serra da Coroa, with approximately 2,000 metres of accumulated climbing. It is a red-graded, long-distance cycle-touring route that encourages riders from both municipalities to share the same itinerary.

Start and finish in Vinhais

The route is circular and begins and ends at the Porta de Vinhais, at the Interface de Transportes. The EN103 leads to Vila Verde at kilometre 6.0, which has a picnic area, and to the Praia Fluvial da Ponte de Soeira at kilometre 9.7, with a café and restaurant, at the lowest point of the day at 595 metres.

The link to Bragança

From Soeira to Bragança the EN103 follows the physical boundary of the Natural Park throughout, with two climbs of around 200 metres along the way. The city is crossed at around kilometre 34, and the route heads north to re-enter the park via Carragosa, Parâmio and Zeive. Between kilometres 34 and 58 the route climbs approximately 430 metres, reaching 1,054 metres.

Mofreita

Mofreita, at around kilometre 64, is the first village in the Vinhais municipality on the return leg. It features traditional Trás-os-Montes architecture, stone houses and narrow streets, along with the Igreja Matriz, dedicated to Saint Vincent, and the Capela do Divino Senhor dos Milagres, a former women's retreat.

Moimenta and the Serra da Gamoneda

Moimenta, at kilometre 66.7, with public toilets and the Museu do Contrabando, sits on a road that runs for several kilometres alongside the border, with wide views to the north: Spanish villages and the imposing Serra da Gamoneda, part of the Sierra de la Culebra. Carvalhas, at kilometre 69.3, has a café.

The Serra da Coroa and the return

The highest point of the day, at 1,136 metres, is reached at kilometre 72.1 on the Serra da Coroa. The descent follows through Salgueiros, Vilar de Ossos, Lagarelhos and Rio de Fornos, dropping approximately 450 metres back to Vinhais, with a café at kilometre 83.8 and restaurants on arrival. Those wishing to extend the route into Spain will find the Rota de A Mezquita, also red-graded, starting from the same point.