Vila Nova de Tazem: Churches, Museums and Cultural Heritage

Vila Nova de Tazem brings together church and museum history, religious heritage, hiking and regional cuisine. You can shape your stay around what interests you most: architecture in the townscape, a longer circular hike, or local traditions and food. A walk through the streets, the PR6 GVA – Route of the Alminhas and the annual transhumance offer different ways to get to know the area. When looking for a hotel, it helps to consider which of these themes you would like to include in your travel plans.

Churches, Townscape and Museums

The Igreja Matriz de Vila Nova de Tazém is a historicist church in the Neo-Romanesque and Gothic Revival styles. It was built between 1894 and 1903 and restored at the end of the 20th century. Its construction and later restoration mark different chapters in its history and can be considered separately when exploring its architecture. The Alminhas are also part of the area’s ethnographic and religious heritage. Twenty-six Alminhas were built in the municipality of Vila Nova de Tazem. They are found on house façades and walls in the town of Vila Nova de Tazem and in the villages of Tazem and Paçoinhos. As you walk through the streets, you can also spot buildings with wooden eaves and granite balconies.

The museums include the Museu dos Rádios Antigos. The Museu Paroquial de Arte Sacra is housed in the Capela de São Bartolomeu. The Museu Etnográfico de Vila Nova de Tazém was established in 1990 or 1991 in a former school building. These offer various cultural points of interest, from a chapel to a former school building. If you plan to visit a museum, check the opening hours in advance.

Hiking and Notable Places

One hiking option is the PR6 GVA – Route of the Alminhas, a 17.5-kilometre circular route. It passes through vineyard landscapes and religious heritage sites. Its length gives you a clear basis for planning: you can make the route a hike in its own right, while a walk through the streets brings other aspects of the townscape to the fore. Places of tourist interest in Vila Nova de Tazem include Penedo Oscilante. The Cadeirão da Quinta do Pé do Coelho is a structure carved entirely out of a block of granite. It stands on a plateau overlooking the valley of the Ribeira de Girabolhos.

Traditions and Regional Cuisine

The transhumance is held annually in collaboration with the Município de Gouveia and the Junta de Freguesia de Vila Nova de Tazem. Visitors can accompany the flock on its return after its summer journey. As specific dates and registration requirements may vary, check them in advance if you plan to take part. Festivals and a Romaria are held in Vila Nova de Tazem in honour of Santo António.

A local speciality is Alambicada, a dish of lamb and white wine slowly cooked in a traditional iron pot. It offers a specific example of regional cuisine. Founded in 1954, the Adega Cooperativa Vila Nova de Tazem adds a historical perspective on winegrowing. Together, the culinary and cultural offerings provide various reasons to include Vila Nova de Tazem in your travel plans.

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