Vales offers two distinct starting points for planning a trip: the landscape of Serra de Santa Comba and the traditions surrounding Santa Comba dos Vales. Regional connections to almonds and wine complete the picture.
Serra de Santa Comba: Elevation, Forest and Viewpoint
Serra de Santa Comba reaches an elevation of 1,041 metres. Its dense forests are characterised by pine, oak, cork oak and holm oak trees. The elevation and tree species describe different aspects of the landscape: the figure gives you a sense of the mountain range, while the list of species gives the forest a distinct profile. If you are particularly interested in nature and scenery when choosing a destination, these details offer a precise introduction to the region’s character.
Miradouro da Serra de Santa Comba is listed among Vales’ cultural and heritage sites. From the miradouro in the parish of Vales, launches are possible in a westerly direction. The mountain landscape and a specific activity connection thus sit side by side.
Legend, Pilgrimage and Historic Chapels
Vales is considered the setting of the legend of Santa Comba dos Vales. The Romaria de Santa Comba is also connected to this legend: the pilgrimage is based on the legend and takes place every year on 8 August. This date is a clear fixed point for planning your trip. If you want the Romaria to be part of your reason for travelling, you can plan your stay around 8 August.
The historic chapels give the story of Santa Comba a tangible local history. An 18th-century parish account describes the chapels of Santa Comba and SĂŁo Leonardo on Serra de Santa Comba as standing immediately next to each other. The historic parish tradition places the Chapel of Santa Comba within the parish of SĂŁo Nicolau dos Vales.
The Chapel of Santo Amaro was located in the village of Zebras, within the parish of São Nicolau dos Vales. The historic name of the parish church also preserves the connection to Santa Comba: it was called “Igreja de São Nicolao nos Valles de Santa Comba”.
The archaeological heritage includes the ensemble of archaeological sites of Serra de Santa Comba (Serra de Passos). The classification procedure initiated in 2014 also included the parish of Vales in the municipality of Valpaços. The ensemble continues to be listed in the municipal heritage annex of 2025.
Regional Connections to Almond Growing and Viticulture
Agriculture also provides a regional connection. Vales belongs to the almond-growing area of Valpaços; the municipality of Valpaços contains a particularly significant almond-growing area. As for viticulture, the geographical connection is Valpaços: it belongs to the DOP “Trás-os-Montes” wine sub-region. For regional context, it is worth distinguishing between these levels: the almond-growing area describes a specific connection to Vales, while the DOP designation names Valpaços.
Vales therefore offers several possible focuses when deciding on your trip: the forest landscape of the serra, the legend and pilgrimage of Santa Comba, historic chapels, and regional connections to agriculture. Consider which matters most to you, then choose the right time for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Zebras, SĂŁo JoĂŁo Da Corveira, Vila Pouca De Aguiar, MesĂŁo Frio, Boticas, Montalegre, Oura, Mondim De Basto
Return to the main travel overview: Vila Real.
