Reriz: Hiking Trails, Chapels and the Rio Paiva River Landscape

Reriz brings together several themes to consider when planning a trip: hiking trails along the Rio Paiva, chapels with different historical connections, and recurring festivals. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Reriz, you can plan your stay around your interests—such as hiking, architectural and religious history, or festival dates.

Hiking on the GR60 and PR5

The GR60 – Rota das Montanhas Mágicas follows the Rio Paiva to Reriz, crossing the river at Ponte do Brasileiro in Pinheiro. Near Reriz, the route leaves the Paiva Valley and heads towards São Martinho das Moitas. The rest of the route includes unpaved paths and some paved sections. Bear this change in trail surfaces in mind when planning your hike.

The PR5 – Trilho do Paiva is a short route covering 12.7 kilometres. It starts at the Largo by Reriz’s parish church; confirm the starting point locally before setting out. Before Casal Bom, the PR5 has a detour to a picnic area on the Rio Paiva. When choosing between the two routes, the PR5’s length is a key consideration, while the GR60 offers the river’s course, the approach to Reriz, and a mix of unpaved and paved sections.

Chapels and historical traces

The Capela de Santo António lies outside Reriz on Monte do Outeiro, while the Capela de S. José is in the centre. Santo António is an example of Mannerist religious architecture. The Capela do Bom Jesus dates from the 17th century; the Capela de S. Sebastião is thought to date from the second half of the 16th century. In the early years of the 19th century, S. Sebastião served as the parish church during the reconstruction of the Igreja de S. Martinho.

The old Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Rodes stands on Monte das Cabeçadas above Reriz. Its foundation is attributed to Leovigildo Pires de Almidra and is probably dated to around 1140. As a Marian sanctuary, it was the destination of many pilgrims. Its location offers wide-ranging views that also take in Reriz.

Festivals throughout the year

The Rio Paiva and cultural heritage

Near Reriz, the Rio Paiva meanders across river terraces that it has formed itself. The Ruínas da Ponte de Cabaços are the remains of a granite bridge that crossed the Rio Paiva and had a medieval profile. A flood in the 1960s destroyed a large part of the bridge. After years of continued deterioration, only part of it can still be seen today. The river near the ruins provides favourable conditions for biodiversity; several rare and protected animal and plant species are found there.

A local tradition links the Poço do Abade river pool with the abbots of Reriz: it is said to have belonged to them, and trout and other fish were caught there for priests.

Discover more destinations: Carregal Do Sal, Candal, Quinta Dos Pisões, Espadanedo, Tabuaço, Santa Comba Dão, Queimada, Castro Daire.

For the broader travel overview: Viseu.