Cortes do Meio brings together natural pools, hiking trails and granite architecture, alongside the historic traces of a mountain village. The Ribeira das Cortes flows around the village. In Serra da Estrela Natural Park, in the parish of Cortes do Meio, the Ribeira de Cortes feeds a reservoir used for swimming. The waterscape and signposted routes offer practical points of reference for planning; the village’s history and local traditions add a cultural dimension to the natural setting.

Natural Pools and the Waterscape

Twelve natural pools are signposted in Cortes do Meio. One specifically named natural attraction is Poço da Cascata: it lies at an altitude of 1,400 metres and has a 20-metre-high waterfall. This gives visitors two distinct points of reference: a wider selection of signposted pools and an individual waterfall with clearly stated measurements. The reservoir fed by the Ribeira de Cortes is also a place used for swimming.

Steep slopes make access difficult to some of the natural pools and waterfalls along the Ribeira de Cortes do Meio. This is an important distinction between the signposted options and the accessibility of individual sites. Conditions can change after shifts in the weather; take this into account when planning and check the situation before setting out. The fact that twelve pools are signposted does not mean that all of them are equally easy to reach.

Hiking Between the Pools

The Rota das Pontes (PR17 CVL) is an eight-kilometre themed hiking trail laid out as a circular route. It starts and finishes at the playground in Aldeia de Montanha Cortes do Meio. Along the way, the route passes several natural pools, with Poço do Funil as a particular highlight. This trail offers a specific route length, a designated start and finish point, and named natural attractions along the way.

Signposted routes link the natural pools of Cortes do Meio. They can be explored on foot or by mountain bike (BTT). The trail network therefore includes both a themed circular hike and routes connecting the pools.

Granite Village and Cultural Heritage

The village’s streetscape features cobbled streets and granite houses decorated with flower boxes. The Ponte Velha sobre a Ribeira de Cortes is an important historic landmark of the mountain village. The architecture and bridge offer a different perspective on Cortes do Meio from the pools and hiking trails: here, the focus is on built structures and the village’s history.

The Rota da Broa also has a cultural connection: it helps preserve and share the memory and history of the parish of Cortes do Meio. At Fonte das Três Bicas, a ritual linked to São João involves young people from the village breaking an egg at midnight. Cabrito is considered a gastronomic emblem of the parish. Together, these places, traditions and local speciality offer further ways to explore Cortes do Meio, distinct from its specific natural attractions and trails.

Discover more destinations: Teixoso, Casegas, Peso, Covilhã, Tortosendo.

Return to the main travel overview: Covilhã.