Attractions and Places To See around Lousada (Santa Margarida) - Top 10

After hiking, be sure to stretch your feet into the warm threads!

A beautiful paved hiking trail for the whole family. Also accessible with a stroller.

Known as the lungs of Vizela, the Parque das Termas is an open invitation to practice outdoor sports. Its main attraction? An impressive concentration of monumental trees, unique in the country, which transform this space into a green haven like no other in Portugal.

The Vizela River Walkways are a linear round-trip route approximately 11.4 km long (5.7 km each way) that allows you to walk along the banks of the Vizela River and Ribeira de Sá. This route is of low difficulty, taking approximately 3h01 to walk, and is suitable for family experiences and also adapted for people with reduced mobility, as there are very few steps along the entire route. Inaugurated on March 16, 2024, these new walkways begin next to the Roman Bridge, in the Maquias area, and continue under the D. Luís I Bridge, towards the Parque das Termas and the riverside promenade. At the confluence of the Ribeira de Sá with the Vizela River, the path heads south, along the bank of the stream, and enters the parish of Santa Eulália, one of the most interesting parts of the route. The walk ends at the incredible Rompecias Waterfall, also known as the Requeixos Waterfalls.

Thoroughly impressive complex run by the Benedictine monks from 1041 to 1834, when all the religious orders in Portugal were dissolved. From the original Romanesque church only the front portal survives, the rest was reconstructed and expanded many times during the Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical periods. Perhaps the most surprising element is the incomplete cloister accessible by stepping through the door to the right of the church. https://www.rotadoromanico.com/en/Monuments/monastery-of-saint-mary-of-pombeiro/

This hilltop sanctuary (410 m) may not be as old, nor as well-known as its venerable neighbours of Bom Jesus and Penha but it's well worth visiting for the magnificent views over the Vizela river valley. Of the two chapels, the smaller one has a longer history, stretching as far back as C14 but it was heavily restored in C19. The larger chapel was consecrated in 1971. The climb from Vizela town (São Bento/St. Benedict being its patron saint) is a little over 3 km long and averages 9,2%. The top is paved with concrete so it's okay even for more delicate road bikes.

The imposing Gothic Revival structure overlooking the Vizela river and the Thermal Park on its opposite bank was commissioned in 1905 by a local politician, businessman and physician, dr Armindo Ribeiro de Faria to serve as the new town hall. But those plans fell through and instead it housed a private club, then a school and later even a wine warehouse. Abandoned and crumbling, in 2008 the Castle was bought by the local council or Câmara Municipal. Unfortunately its fortunes didn't exactly reverse because of the lack of funds. Worse still, in 2020 it was badly damaged by a fire. However there seems to be some hope on the horizon with a new plan of restoration adopted by the Câmara in March 2021.

You have to climb to get there, but the visit to the Saint and the spectacular view are really worth it!