Hiking Trail from Vilas Boas to Oura (Chaves), Hiking, Trekking, Walking Trails, Tracks, Pedestrian Routes, Portugal

Percurso Pedestre de Vilas Boas a Oura (Chaves)

The hiking trail that takes us from Vilas Boas to Oura develops in about 8.5 km (one way) tracks and rural roads that tear the Oura Valley and discover the villages of Vilas Boas, Fornos, Vila Verde and Oura. In addition to these villages, there are other points of interest, such as the Bridge and the small Roman Fountain, almost on the outskirts of Oura.
I started walking in Vilas Boas and followed the Municipal Road 549 (EM549) towards Vidago. After walking about 1.2 kms down this road on the sidewalk, where just bumped me with a tractor on the way to the fields, I found the plate with the indication of “Fornos”. Here begins the track in dirt that comes down the hill through agricultural land, including vineyards and olive groves.
I arrived to the Fornos village, a small rural village with few inhabitants (unfortunately common feature of many villages in the interior of Portugal), more specifically off by the Chapel of the Lady of the Annunciation where it says here that existed long ago, an inn to receive travelers. Today there will remain only some ruins of this building which housed outsiders and that perhaps would be in the routes of pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela.
I continue down the path that will funneling more and more. The stone walls bordering agricultural land interspersed with pine woods and forests where indigenous vegetation grows without limits or rules. This begins to take care of some sections of it, but nothing that prevents the progression.
I recognize the Vila Verde surroundings when the trail reaches cultivated fields, pastures, olive groves and orchards out of sight.
I walk down the “Olival street” and then the “Cimo do Povo street”, crossing the houses of the “transmontana” village with traditional stone houses and wooden porches. Large solar stand out in this village in the Oura Valley, whose built heritage presents a reasonable overall conservation status.
I come to the Municipal Road 311 (EM311) and cross it, following a rural road to the Roman Fountain. At about 1000 meters from the municipal road I found a fork paths and follow the left, taking the detour to the Fountain. 700 meters further on, follow the right way and after a small bridge, I found, hidden among the vegetation that swallows and protected by a wire mesh, the Roman Fountain where you can still observe some tiles and the stairs of access to the baths. Despite its small size, it is actually a piece of history that interests to preserve and revitalize, thus making it one more reason of interest in the region. In the state where I found her, will surely overlooked the vast majority of visitors of Vidago and Chaves region.
Return to the fork tracks, where I did this deviation to follow now to the left, towards Oura. Right there I find myself with the Roman Bridge of one arch over the Oura River which presents an excellent condition. Still allows the access to crop fields of Oura Valley, firmly holding on the passage of time.
I go up and I walk the last dozen meters of the route, as the streets of the pretty village of Oura, contemplating the manor houses and ending the walk on the “Largo do Olmo” and the old way station of Corgo Railway Track Line, built entirely of wood .
The return to Vilas Boas can be done by the same path in reverse direction (will be over 8 kms to rise) or using a motor transport (taxis, ride, etc …).