Xistopedia

A sea of mountains

A sea of mountains
villages and territory
Mountain ranges as far as the eye can see

The territory of the Aldeias do Xisto has a group of mountains divided into two blocks by the so-called “Zêzere Gap”, the river that separates and unites this area:

  • on one side the Serra do Açor (1418 m) and the Serra da Lousã (1204 m)
  • on the other side the Serra de Alvelos (1084 m), the Serra da Gardunha (1227 m) and the Serra do Muradal (915 m)

From the summit of any of them or from other high points, mountainous waves stretch to the horizon line, making you feel like you are on a tiny, lost island. When we travel along some roads we feel as if we are on board a small boat that it define the stormy waves. The wind towers stand out in the landscape and seem to correspond to the masts of fleets and armadas that trying not to sink beneath the waves.

The sea becomes rough as we catch sight of the quartzite ridges that seem to emerge at the top of certain mountain ranges: the Serra de São João, the Penedos de Góis, the Penedos de Fajão, the Serra do Vidual and the Estreito. When interrupted by water courses these quartzite formations give rise to major geomorphological accidents: the Fragas de São Simão, Senhora da Candosa, Garganta do Zêzere and the Portas do Almourão.

The River Ceira risers in the Serra do Açor, at an altitude of 1118m. 100km later, upon its arrival in Coimbra, it will flow into the Mondego. There are eleven Aldeias do Xisto within its drainage basin
The Alvoco and then the Alva, although they originate in the Serra da Estrela, are also fed on their left by the Serra do Açor. After meeting at the Ponte das Três Entradas (Três Entradas Bridge), the Alva will also meet the Mondego near Penacova. There are three Aldeias do Xisto within its catchment area.

The Zêzere enjoys the status of a great river, with a strong temperament, to which no riverside village remains indifferent.

Human beings did not want these rivers to run wild, as they have always done. In these valleys, dug out by the waters in a hurry to become streams and rivers, dams have been built to transform the force of the flow of the waters into electricity. So today, the tranquil surfaces of several reservoirs mirror the landscapes that surround them.
The Ceira only stumbles at the Alto Ceira Dam (1949). With the construction of the Santa Luzia Dam (1942), the Unhais stream ceased to roar in the gorge of the Serra do Vidual. The Cabril Dam (1954) took its name from the restriction of the Zêzere River near Pedrógão Pequeno. In the end, just as the Zêzere tries to break free and run wild again, the Bouca Dam (1991) captures and tames it. But not even the gigantic Castelo de Bode Dam (1951) is able to store the huge amount of water that these mountains produce.

These form an immense lake of about 6100 hectares, which is almost continuous.

A mountain of water containing 2 billion cubic metres of fresh water.

 

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restaurants
Bem-Me-Quer
Bem-Me-Quer
Martim Branco
restaurants
Callum
Callum
Oleiros
restaurants
Fugas Restaurant
Fugas Restaurant
restaurants
Museu da Chanfana
Museu da Chanfana
Miranda do Corvo
restaurants
As Beiras
As Beiras
Pampilhosa da Serra
restaurants
Santo Amaro
Santo Amaro
Sertã
restaurants
Varanda do Casal
Varanda do Casal
Casal de São Simão
restaurants
João Brandão
João Brandão
Oliveira do Hospital
lodging
Casa da Moenda
Casa da Moenda
Benfeita
lodging
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Talasnal
lodging
Arganil Municipal Camping Park
Arganil Municipal Camping Park
Sarzedo
lodging
Casas da Mina - Hostel
Casas da Mina - Hostel
Cabeço do Pião
lodging
Hotel Parque Serra Da Lousã
Hotel Parque Serra Da Lousã
Miranda do Corvo
lodging
Casas do Favacal
Casas do Favacal
Favacal
lodging
Sete Quintas
Sete Quintas
Retorta
lodging
Casas do Sinhel
Casas do Sinhel
Relva da Mó
lodging
Aldeia Ruiva Campsite
Aldeia Ruiva Campsite
Aldeia Ruiva, Proença-a-Nova
offer
Dia e Noite no Centro da Natureza
Dia e Noite no Centro da Natureza
heritage
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
heritage
Religious tour in Pedrógão Pequeno
Religious tour in Pedrógão Pequeno
offer
Geological Walk in Sobral Fernando
Geological Walk in Sobral Fernando
heritage
Chapel of São Sebastião
Chapel of São Sebastião
village
Comareira
Comareira
village
Martim Branco
Martim Branco
village
Benfeita
Benfeita
tour
Panoramic Road: Barroca - Fajão
Panoramic Road: Barroca - Fajão
tour
PR1 PPS - Fajão Schist trails  – Climbing the cliffs
PR1 PPS - Fajão Schist trails – Climbing the cliffs
Casas do Rio
offer
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
tour
PR2 MCV - Gondramaz Schist trail - In the Miller’s Footsteps
PR2 MCV - Gondramaz Schist trail - In the Miller’s Footsteps