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Serra do Louro

PALMELA TRAILS

PR2 Short-distance trail

Serra do Louro Ridge
and Quinta do Anjo village

An iconic trail of the region, starting at one of the main gateways to the Arrábida Natural Park. It invites visitors to explore the archaeological heritage of Serra do Louro Ridge and Quinta do Anjo, while enjoying magnificent landscapes marked throughout the area by the Ó Cubo structures of Serra do Louro.

​Starting from Fortuna Artes e Ofícios, a meeting place for Portuguese ceramics, the trail heads towards the village of Quinta do Anjo to showcase the Casal do Pardo Artificial Caves – a National Monument since 1934 and a site of significant archaeological finds. The village of Quinta do Anjo, traditionally linked to the cheese, bread, and wine sectors and whose name originates from the Fonte do Anjo (Angel’s Fountain) and its legend, offers a preview of a visit to be enjoyed later.

​Part of the trail crosses the Serra do Louro, offering magnificent views to the south over the São Luís and Gaiteiros mountain ranges, and to the north over Lisbon and the Tagus River estuary. Composed of marly limestones, Miocene-aged sandstone, the area is rich in marine animal fossils. Along the summit ridge, historic windmills stand out, intricate mechanisms that reflect the region’s cereal and bread-making heritage, as well as the archaeological sites of Alto da Queimada and Castro de Chibanes, the latter classified as a Site of Public Interest in 2011.

Serra do Louro boasts a great diversity of plant species, including rosemary, thyme, lavender, and oregano. March and April offer the chance to admire the wild orchids in bloom.

Vale dos Barris Valley is home to Teatro O Bando, one of the oldest cultural cooperatives in Portugal. The route also passes by Quinta do Piloto, whose vineyards and winery reflect four generations of a family deeply connected to the history of Palmela.

STARTING POINT

38°34’00.56” N / 8°55’40.10” O

Start and finish at Fortuna Artes e Ofícios.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Trail with no shade; be cautious of heat during the warmer months and slippery terrain in winter. Respect all archaeological sites and local flora, especially the wild orchids.

TIPS

Suggested complementary visits: the Palmela Municipal Museum Galleries and the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Setúbal District.


SUPPLIES

Available at the start and end of the trail (Fortuna Artes e Ofícios and Quinta do Piloto).

TECHNICAL SHEET

Type of trail

Type of trail | Circular

Recommended season

Recommended season | September to June

Recommended direction

Recommended Direction | Fortuna arts and crafts – artificial caves – Quinta do Anjo – Serra do Louro

Extensão

LENGTH | 9,08 Km

Duration

ESTIMATED DURATION | 3h30

Desn�ível

Cumulative elevation gain | 280m / -280m

Altitude

Min/máx altitude | 225m/105m

Palmela PR2
Map (GPX) of the trail

POINTS OF INTEREST

  • Artificial caves at Quinta do Anjo

  • Alcaria do Alto da Queimada

  • Castro de Chibanes

  • Fossilised oyster bed

  • Quinta do Piloto

MILITARY MAP OF PORTUGAL

Sheet 454 | 1/25000, IGeoE

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