The Levada Route is a trail in Serra da Lousã, in Central Portugal
Levada Route - Lousã;
Distance: 7 km;
Circular: no;
Technical Difficulty: Difficult;
Departure/Arrival Location: Castelo da Lousã/Aldeia da Cerdeira.
Distance: 7 km;
Circular: no;
Technical Difficulty: Difficult;
Departure/Arrival Location: Castelo da Lousã/Aldeia da Cerdeira.
The Levada Route follows an idyllic levada that is still in operation (which transports water from the mountains to the Power Station) and passes through dense green colored forests and through two Schist Villages of Serra da Lousã: Cerdeira and Candal.
The Serra da Lousã Levada Trail known as PR3 LSA is a beautiful walking trail that connects the village of Cerdeira to Castelo de Arouce, passing through Candal.
The route can start at Lousã Castle in Aldeia do Xisto da Cerdeira and during this route you pass through Ribeira de S. João which feeds the natural pools of Sra. Piedade.
On the route it is possible to visit the Aldeia do Xisto do Candal next to the road that connects the village of Lousã and Castanheira de Pera.
In the village of Candal you will find trail markings that indicate the path to Aldeia da Cerdeira where the route ends.
On the way you can visit the Candal Waterfall, Ribeira de São João (historic water mills), the natural pools of Senhora da Piedade, Portuguese swings and come across residents of the Serra da Lousã forests such as foxes, deer, roe deer and wild boars.
In this area there is an abundance of oaks and chestnut trees and in autumn you will find a color palette with countless shades of yellow, orange and red.
In Serra da Lousã we can find a diverse flora and fauna and centuries-old chestnut trees are present along almost the entire route.
Next to the villages we find oaks, cork oaks and maritime pine and the water lines that were once used to water the vegetable gardens cultivated by mountain inhabitants have been preserved and today serve to quench the thirst of wild animals.
The water lines, some of which are centuries old, end up giving life and movement to the stunning surrounding landscapes and deer, roe deer and wild boar are also very common.
At the end of the levada, the original path continues to Castelo da Lousã for another 1,500 meters and the adjacent Praia Fluvial de Nossa Senhora da Piedade.
Visitors should start the Levada Route trail in Cerdeira instead of Castelo da Lousã because it is almost always downhill and becomes easier.
The route is linear and if there are two cars, the ideal is to leave one car at Cerdeira and another at Castelo da Lousã so you can return at the end of the route, otherwise you have to do 14 km and the 7 km on the way back are always uphill.
The Serra da Lousã Levada Trail known as PR3 LSA is a beautiful walking trail that connects the village of Cerdeira to Castelo de Arouce, passing through Candal.
The route can start at Lousã Castle in Aldeia do Xisto da Cerdeira and during this route you pass through Ribeira de S. João which feeds the natural pools of Sra. Piedade.
On the route it is possible to visit the Aldeia do Xisto do Candal next to the road that connects the village of Lousã and Castanheira de Pera.
In the village of Candal you will find trail markings that indicate the path to Aldeia da Cerdeira where the route ends.
On the way you can visit the Candal Waterfall, Ribeira de São João (historic water mills), the natural pools of Senhora da Piedade, Portuguese swings and come across residents of the Serra da Lousã forests such as foxes, deer, roe deer and wild boars.
In this area there is an abundance of oaks and chestnut trees and in autumn you will find a color palette with countless shades of yellow, orange and red.
In Serra da Lousã we can find a diverse flora and fauna and centuries-old chestnut trees are present along almost the entire route.
Next to the villages we find oaks, cork oaks and maritime pine and the water lines that were once used to water the vegetable gardens cultivated by mountain inhabitants have been preserved and today serve to quench the thirst of wild animals.
The water lines, some of which are centuries old, end up giving life and movement to the stunning surrounding landscapes and deer, roe deer and wild boar are also very common.
At the end of the levada, the original path continues to Castelo da Lousã for another 1,500 meters and the adjacent Praia Fluvial de Nossa Senhora da Piedade.
Visitors should start the Levada Route trail in Cerdeira instead of Castelo da Lousã because it is almost always downhill and becomes easier.
The route is linear and if there are two cars, the ideal is to leave one car at Cerdeira and another at Castelo da Lousã so you can return at the end of the route, otherwise you have to do 14 km and the 7 km on the way back are always uphill.
