Silver Coast Portugal

Centro de BTT

Portugal's first official mountainbike centre, the Centro de BTT, is located in the naturepark Serra d'Aire e Candeeiros.

There are 7 routes in the area, varying in distance and difficulty. The total length of the tracks is 265 kilometer. It's possible to combine several routes, or to switch from one route to another during your track. All routes cross nature and the best places in the area, where you can also have a stop for something to eat or drink.

The mountainbike center is located next to the ecological park Pia do Urso, in the Serra d'Aire e Candeeiros. There are changing rooms with showers available, but there is also room for cleaning your bike or do some small repairs. There is plenty of parking space around the center, and there is a restaurant and cafés at the ecological park.

The center makes sure the tracks are checked maintained throughout the year.

Centro de BTT

For the holidaymaker who is attempting a sportive activity: Hiking the Mata do Cerejal

The start and the end of this hike in Central Portugal is located in São Mateus and the chapels of Our Lady of Alcanades, about 15 minutes drive from the center of Batalha.

The hike goes through 'forest Cherry Orchard', a wooded area with narrow paths and many different plant species. The route is quite varied and offers beautiful views and is mentioned along the old mouth of the coalmine, Os Polvarinhos. Here was once stored the gunpowder which is used for mining. The tour passes a quarry where several employees daily the big stone blocks cut into various sizes ranging from small to large stones. And no, it does not involve any machine, even just craftsmanship.

For this walk requires good shoes and a reasonable condition but accessible to everyone. Nice touch is that the route is well indicated. The construction of the new road the IC9 makes the route extended from 6.5 km to 9 km. The duration of the tour is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Water feature

When it rains the water is cascading over a carpet of large granite blocks and is collected in a huge basin.

The water is filtered in a natural way in the stomach and lead to a public fountain for the people of Mendiga. (2480 Porto de Mós)

In the park you find a educative model of the water mining. There is also a children playground, a public bbq and toilets.

The largest caves in Portugal

They were discovered in 1947, and in 1974 they were opened to the public. There are several halls, each has its own name, like the Red Room, or the Chapel. A river runs through the caves. At the end of the tour you are 110 meters below surface, a lift takes you up at the end of the tour.

Fun for kids: there is an aquatic park right next to the exit of the caves.

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The caves of the fox

The Grutas da Moeda are in São Mamede, on a distance of about 2 kilometres of Fátima. The caves were discovered in 1971 by 2 hunters who were following a fox. The fox escaped in a large cavity surrounded by bushes. The hunters were curious so they decided to enter the cavity, and that way they discovered the caves.

The corridors open to the public are 350 meters long, and reach a depth of 45 meters. The temperature inside the caves is very constant, always around 18˚ C. 

In these 'brother caves' you can admire thousands of stalactites and stalacmites

Although the Santo António caves were discovered in 1955, and the Alvados caves in 1964, they are always mentioned together. They are very close to each other, but they are very different.

The Santo António caves have a monumental hall with small waterways and natural lakes, completely filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The Alvados caves have endless corridors which unexpectedly open to small halls and several natural lakes, the many tunnels interrupted by deep “Algares” which is very specific for this region.