Boticas: Mountain Landscapes, Wine Traditions and History

Boticas lies in the rugged, mountainous Barroso region. Here, a distinctive wine tradition and places with an archaeological past meet the river landscape of the Beça. At Boticas Parque, you can explore nature-related themes on guided visits or on the water; historic sites and villages offer a different perspective.

Wine Traditions and Regional Products

Vinho dos Mortos is a wine tradition dating back to the early 19th century, in which the bottles are buried in the ground. The production area is limited to the parishes of Granja, Boticas and Sapiãos. The Repositório Histórico do Vinho dos Mortos presents the production process. It is located at the entrance to Granja, where the vineyards that once produced the wine used to stand. It is housed in a reconstructed granite building designed as a traditional winery.

Barrosã beef, also associated with Boticas, is another defining regional product and has protected designation of origin status. Visitors interested in local produce can also join guided tastings of regional products at Boticas Parque, combined with a 1.5-kilometre walk. Confirm the availability of this activity before your trip.

River Landscapes and Activities at Boticas Parque

Boticas Parque can be reached via the Estrada Regional 311. The A24 provides a fast connection from Galicia and northern Portugal. The approximately 60-hectare site includes the former forestry nurseries of Relva. Along the Beça River, the park preserves riparian woodland and protected habitats. Lagoa do Brejo also has high plant and animal biodiversity; an observation point there offers views of the PAVT’s fauna and flora.

Guided interpretive visits at Boticas Parque include stops at the watermill, Ponte Pedrinha and sites showcasing the Beça’s biodiversity. Other stops and topics include herb fields, the educational farm, the organic garden, the trout farm and Relva fishing park, as well as the owl forest, amphibian pond and traditional oven. Kayak trips on the river offer the chance to observe local flora and fauna and the natural surroundings from the water. Bike tours take you through the park’s natural landscape and the surrounding area.

A guided tasting includes a 1.5-kilometre walk; the Rota das Levadas PR4 is considerably longer, at 13.3 kilometres and 4 hours 30 minutes. This circular route, focused on nature and culture, starts at Boticas Parque and includes the Termas de Carvalhelhos as one of its points of interest.

The park also offers a high ropes course with twelve bridges and a 150-metre slide for participants taller than 1.40 metres. Check seasonal availability before your visit.

Archaeology, Buildings and Villages

Several places reveal the region’s long history in different ways. Minas do Brejo is a Roman mining front in the upper Terva Valley, near the village of Bobadela; it covers approximately twelve hectares. Poço das Freitas is an artificial water reservoir created by Roman mining. Mine entrances, vertical shafts and old spoil heaps recall the mining activity there.

Castro de Carvalhelhos was built during the Iron Age. Its fortifications included three lines of walls, three dug-out ditches and a field of standing stones. Castro do Outeiro de Lesenho stands out in the surrounding landscape; from there, the region’s fortified settlements can be seen. At the Centro Europeu de Documentação e Interpretação da Escultura Castreja (CEDIEC), the permanent exhibition displays replicas of the four Galician warrior statues found at Outeiro Lesenho.

The Pelourinho de Dornelas is most likely a testament to the Manueline period and belongs to the pine-shaped pillory type. It is classified as a property of public interest. Capela de Santa Margarida de Atilhó is an 18th-century rectangular religious building. Vilarinho Seco is considered one of the best-preserved villages in Barroso; granite granaries and houses with their thatched roofs intact define its appearance. The local community still uses the communal oven to bake bread.

Discover more destinations: Boticas, Granja, Oura, Valpaços, Mesão Frio, Santa Marta De Penaguião, Ribeira De Pena, Sabrosa.

For the broader travel overview: Vila Real.