Fontão: Historic Buildings and Trails

Fontão combines historic buildings with trails and a landscape shaped by its proximity to the river. When planning a stay, you can first decide whether architectural history or hiking will be your main focus. Highlights include the Ponte do Arquinho, several manor houses and stone crosses, as well as the protected area of the Bertiandos and São Pedro de Arcos Lagoons. The buildings vary in age, design and function.

Historic Buildings and Stone Crosses

The Ponte do Arquinho in Fontão is a single-arch bridge from the modern era. It served the old royal road between Ponte de Lima and Viana. A historical architectural description reproduced in a tourism description gives the bridge’s length, including its ramps, as 50 metres.

The gateway to Quinta de São Bento in Fontão dates from 1734. The private chapel, dedicated to Saint Benedict, dates from the 16th century and has an altarpiece carved from granite. In the grounds in front of the chapel is a stone cross bearing an inscription.

The Casa do Retiro manor house dates from the early 19th century. Casa do Retiro has a threshing floor and one of the largest stone granaries in the region. Casa Grande in Fontão dates back at least to the 17th century. At its northeastern corner stands a distinctive three-storey tower.

Near the Capela de São Cristóvão in Fontão, some remains are interpreted as the remnants of a small medieval watchtower, on the site of which the present-day chapel was built. The site has been substantially altered.

Hiking Trails and Landscape

The Rota dos Cruzeiros is a short hiking trail with markings and signage that meet international standards. It passes the stone crosses of São Pedro d’Arcos and Fontão. The Fontão stone cross dates from the 18th century and has a fluted shaft depicting the Virgin Mary. The façade of Fontão parish church faces a stone cross from the 18th century. A chapel dedicated to Saint Christopher was built on Monte de São Cristóvão in the 17th or 18th century. The route also leads to the Capela de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios.

The Ecovia das Lagoas connects the village of Ponte de Lima with the Ribeira da Silvareira stream in Fontão. Fontão is mostly characterised by flat terrain near the river; its most prominent elevation is Monte de São Cristóvão.

Fontão lies within the administrative area of the Bertiandos and São Pedro de Arcos Lagoons protected area. The protected area includes two lagoons and the banks of the Estorãos River. It has five signposted hiking trails, as well as observation, conservation and information facilities. The Rota dos Cruzeiros is a short hiking trail; the Ecovia connects two named points, while the protected area has five signposted trails. This helps distinguish the different information on trail length, connections and trail options when planning your stay.

Discover more destinations: Anais, Poiares, Calvelo, Estorãos, Vitorino das Donas, Gaifar, Refóios Do Lima, Cabaços

For the main travel overview: Ponte De Lima.