The Gerês, with its full name Peneda-Gerês National Park, extends in the north of Portugal for almost 70 thousand hectares, being the only Portuguese National Park.
Regarding the villages, and first of all, it is important to understand that Gerês is a huge territorial area with a lot to offer. Therefore, there are several villages that are worth visiting – many in addition to the ones we talk about here. However, we did try to create a list of villages that we visited over 3 days, creating a small itinerary for those who, like us, want to know Gerês but have few days of vacation.
Lindoso and Soajo
Despite being two distinct villages, Lindoso and Soajo are territorially and culturally close.
First, it is in Lindoso that we find the largest group of granaries in the Iberian Peninsula. Furthermore, in the village itself, we find a wonderful and traditional setting, marked by buildings such as the Castle, the Church and the Pillory.
Next, it is from the Castle that you have one of the best views of the Alto Lindoso Dam. This building, close to the village, is the most powerful production center in the country. If you visit Lindoso, do not forget to also visit the dam – you can even visit the underground power station at 340 meters.
As an additional tip, pay attention to the time of year you visit this village. In our case, we visited in the middle of summer and ended up getting a more yellow tone, with times when nature is reborn and the scenery becomes greener.
Regarding to Soajo, we find a similar scenario, marked by the presence of granaries and several other cultural landmarks, such as Church and Pillory. However, it has a greater presence of nature, with places like Mantas Well and Dark Well.
Additionally, the streets of Soajo are (they were when we visited) constantly filled by the presence of cattle that calmly stroll along the streets.
Castro Laboreiro
One of Gerês' biggest surprises: Castro Laboreiro. This village is mainly known for still having a population that changes houses depending on the months of the year, alternating between 'Brandas' (at the top of the mountain, in hot weather) and 'Inverneiras' (in the valleys, in cold weather).
In this village, in addition to a picturesque center full of scenery, we find the Castle, at an altitude of 850 meters. This is a quick but hard walk to get there – but with a view that is worth it.
Additionally, there are some places in the vicinity that we recommend visiting: the Bridges (the New, the Old and the 'Cava da Velha'), the Laboreiro Waterfall, the Museum, the Bridge and Assureira Mills and, mainly, the Pontes Village, an 'Inverneira'.
Sistelo
Considered one of the 7 Wonder Villages of Portugal, the “Little Portuguese Tibet” became known for its scenery, marked by the surrounding terraces.
Despite being a small village, here are some important points to visit: Castel House, a two-towered building that currently houses an Interpretive Center, the set of granaries within the village itself, the Mother Church and the traditional 'lavadouro'
Additionally, Sistelo stands out for its River Beach and for its walkways, inserted in Ecovia do Vez – these two points can be visited by the Sistelo Walkways Trail.
Another trail worth mentioning is the Sistelo Bridges Trail, with about 1km, and that crosses a set of old bridges.
If the heat allows it, we also recommend a visit to one of the several viewpoints around the village, and which are duly identified through information boards.
val de poldros
The village that recently gained fame as the Village of Hobbits: Val de Poldros. A small hidden treasure in Gerês, where cows and wild horses roam freely and cross the road without major worries.
This is a small village where you can stay overnight, as we did (in our case, at Miradouro da Branda) – believe me that the sunset in this village has a special flavor.
Full name Branda de Santo António de Val de Poldros, currently only one person lives here – the rest are tourism. This resident also owns one of the best restaurants we've ever found: Val de Poldros Restaurant, where the food is wonderfull
Therefore, we recommend that between your visit to the villages mentioned above, take the opportunity to take a walk in Val de Poldros. In the process, you can take the opportunity to stay overnight and watch the sunrise in the heart of the Peneda-Gerês National Park.
more to see
English 
Português