The best walks and hikes around Avis

Please note that this route is closed. The landowners where the walkways pass, I was told, are in dispute with the City Council and have a sign at the entrance to the walkway informing that it is private property and that entry is not permitted.

Located in the parish of Seda, in the heart of the Alentejo, the ruins of the walls that surrounded the ancient castle of Seda remain determined to preserve their ancient history. Without official evidence, some studies point to the existence of a castro of the Lusitanian tribe, occupied by Roman troops who would have erected a fortification there. The Roman presence in the region is well-known, and easily attested to by the Vila Formosa Bridge (1st and 2nd centuries), milestones, and the military road that would have connected Lisbon to Mérida. In 1160, King Afonso Henriques conquered the village, which at the time was called Arminho, from the Moors and donated the fortification to the Templars. This is the date that marked the beginning of the village's original enclosure. During the reign of King Afonso III, the village was handed over to the Order of Aviz and was later elevated to the status of a town, even serving as the municipal seat until 1836. The castle, however, gradually lost importance, and only a section of medieval wall, reinforced with turrets, has survived to this day. It has been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1982.

The walkway begins at the charming Praia Fluvial do Gameiro and immediately plunges you into a wilder Alentejo, always following the Raia river. As you progress, the montados embrace the trail and the sound of the water soothes the landscape. Here, amidst the shadows and silence, it is not uncommon to come across grey herons, kingfishers or jays, winged sentinels of this riverside paradise.

The Raia stream is a water reservoir that originates in the municipality of Mora, more specifically in the parish of Cabeção, where the waters of two small streams, the Seda and Tera, meet. A few kilometres further on, it joins the Sor stream, in the parish of Couço, and is a tributary of the Sorraia river, which belongs to the Tagus river basin. The Gameiro dam is located in the initial section of the Raia stream, and is part of the hydro-agricultural development project known as the Prata river. The name Raia probably has Arabic origins. The Gameiro River Beach is located in the Gameiro Ecological Park, very close to the Mora River. The Gameiro dam, on the Raia River, gave rise to this wonderful bathing area. This ecological park is a point of interest in the municipality due to the variety of attractions and infrastructure available. The existing facilities include a campsite, a picnic area, the Mora River Park, and the Tree Climbing Park, where the entire area is designed for extreme sports. For younger guests, there is a children's playground and a café with a fantastic terrace. There is also an Environmental Interpretation Centre. The most attractive spot is the beautiful wooden walkway, known as the Gameiro Ecological Park Walkway. It is built entirely of wood and is 1.5 kilometres long. It offers an absolutely incredible view over the Raia River. The entire trail provides information about the trees, shrubs and flowers that grow there. For nature lovers, this is undoubtedly the ideal place to spend pleasant summer days. The riverside flora is characterised by poplars and willows, and the trail area is home to pine trees and cork oaks. Some of the points of interest in the area: • Gameiro Reservoir • Ribeira da Raia • Gameiro Ecological Park Walkways • River Beach • Picnic Park • Riverside Areas • Largo do Lagar Garden • Nossa Senhora da Purificação Parish Church • Natural Landscapes

The Gameiro Ecological Park was created at the Gameiro Dam, on the Raia River. It is a park that serves as a point of interest for the municipality, as it has a diverse range of attractions and infrastructures available. Examples include the Camping Park, Picnic Park, Leisure Area, Mora River and the Tree Climbing Park in the surrounding area, designed for extreme sports, and the Wooden Walkway along 1.5 km of the Raia River. The Gameiro Ecological Park is located in the parish of Cabeção, in the municipality of Mora.

During the day, it is a Cafeteria, Bakery, Restaurant and Snack-Bar. At night, it is a Brewery and Pub. It has delicious baguettes and the staff is very friendly and familiar. A place not to be missed in Cabeção. Closed on Thursdays.

The Ribeira da Raia is a Portuguese watercourse that originates in the Alentejo, in the parish of Cabeção, from the junction of the Seda and Tera rivers. It passes north of the town of Mora and flows into the left bank of the Ribeira de Sor, in the parish of Couço, where they form the Sorraia river. The name Raia probably has Arabic origins and designates the border region of the Almohad territory, just like the place name Soutelinho da Raia on the border between Portugal and Spain.

The Mora Fluviário is a public aquarium mainly dedicated to freshwater ecosystems, focusing on knowledge about biodiversity, the importance of rivers, lakes and other natural freshwater courses and their relationship with humanity. It was opened on 21 March 2007 and during your visit you will get to know some of the freshwater species of Portugal from its source to its mouth, and even the ocean, as well as others that occur in the Iberian Peninsula, and also in the Amazon River basin, the great African lakes of the Rift Valley and also in Asia. With freshwater as a cross-cutting theme in various areas of knowledge and cultures, a visit to this aquarium is a place to raise awareness about caring for these ecosystems that are home to enormous diversity, despite the fact that the freshwater available in liquid form on the surface constitutes a tiny percentage of all the water on planet Earth.