The current chapel of Alveite Grande was built to replace an old hermitage, next to which a fair was held as early as 1747 on 25th July, Saint James’ Day. It is said that its dedication to this saint is due to the establishment here in ancient times of a colony of Galicians from Santiago de Compostela.

This devotion remains to this day, bringing together residents and returning migrants around the chapel for the Saint James’ festivities.

“For Saint James, paint the grape berry”

It is traditional for the image of the saint to go out in the procession carrying a bunch of grapes with him.

In the Past…

In his “Geographical Dictionary”, Volume I, 1747, Father Luiz Cardoso already notes the existence of “a Chapel of Santiago,” next to which a fair was already being held on July 25th! Although this refers to another chapel of which only traces remained at the beginning of the 20th century, the dictionary thus confirms a long-standing devotion to Santiago Maior.

A goat pen in the hearth of the mountain

The Capril da Serra, promoted by the Parish Council of São Miguel de Poiares, aims to revive the memory and essence of the silvopastoral tradition of this region through a traditional activity. The herd plays a key role in managing fuel loads, controlling the spread of invasive species, and contributing to the transformation of the landscape into an area that is intended to be more resilient and biodiverse.

The project supports the preservation of the Serrana breed, a native Portuguese breed believed to originate from the Serra da Estrela and descended from the Capra pyrenaica, or Pyrenean ibex. Almost the entire herd represents the Ribatejano ecotype, one of the four in which the breed evolved, primarily known for its milk production.

As an extensive farming operation, the herd sets out daily to roam the mountain paths, with the horizon stretching as far as the eye can see. Closely watched by the shepherd, the goats enjoy a varied diet, with heather, gorse, and broom being their preferred choices. The goats and the shepherd spend their days in the peace of nature, bringing life and soul to the mountains.

Landscape in constant change

The Bidueiro mountains (or Alveite mountains) connects villages through their shared memories of the past. Until the last quarter of the 20th century, these mountainous territories were sustained by agriculture, livestock farming, and forestry. It is not surprising that the mountain had then a different landscape.

In the past, numerous herds roamed the hills and valleys, preventing vegetation from growing, but in the mid-20th century, a reforestation plan with maritime pine was implemented, with thinning operations supplying industrial kilns, bakeries, and sawmills. The old forester’s houses, one at each end of the mountain, connected by a telephone line, which was innovative at the time, are a testimony to this period.

After 1980, the gradual abandonment of pine exploitation and the increasing frequency of fires created ideal conditions for the expansion of eucalyptus, either planted or spontaneous, as well as the emergence of invasive species. Nevertheless, it is still common to find native species such as strawberry trees, common hawthorns, chestnuts, and oaks.

Red deer(Cervus elaphus)

As a large herbivore, the red deer plays an important role in maintaining a dynamic and biodiverse landscape mosaic. It is easier to spot in the mountains during the autumn months, at dusk and dawn, when the rut occurs (roars emitted during the breeding season).

Invasive species…

Invasive exotic plants are “non-native plants that cause negative environmental and economic impacts,” degrading habitats and preventing native species from establishing themselves. By grazing Australian blackwood (1), mimosa (2), and willow-leaved hakea (3), the goats help control invasive species in this area.

The spike-wattle acacia is being controlled by the agent Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae (4), a small wasp that creates galls where flowers (and later seeds) would normally form, preventing the species from spreading. More difficult is dealing with the bushy needlewood (5).

Please, help control invasive species by learning to identify them and participating in control efforts!

Did you know…

… the Bidueiro mountains were once the setting of a book! The novel “O Fundador de Jutiuca” describes the harshness of life here at the beginning of the 20th century, when flocks of sheep were often herded up the mountains by children. The book also depicts the waves of emigration to Brazil, which led to a decrease in populations and in the number of flocks with consequences to the landscape of the mountains.

When the Name is what matters the least

Chã da Cabeça, Calhau da Velha, Cabeço da Velha, Seixomil, Descolagem da Fraga… many are the names used by people, military maps, or activities to identify this place, which has always been important to the community. While colourful paragliding wings take off from here nowadays, there are still those who remember traces of a windmill that once stood here, providing flour in exchange for a portion of the grain.

Being a common land, this area was also where potters often came to collect “leivas” to maintain the heat and smother the fire in the traditional firing of black clay in neighbouring villages. In the second half of the 20th century, the maritime pine descending the slope fed the sawmills and kept the craft of resin collectors alive, with its memory preserved in the trail connecting the foot of the mountain to the higher elevations.

However, this space was not only about work. According to the inhabitants of Alveite Grande, on Ascension Thursday, one of the holiest days of the year marked by the gathering of wheat, the village families would come here and have a picnic, even holding the “Criquelhas” festival once. The fascination with the wide landscape and the best sunset in the area stems from those days, confirming this as a beloved space for contemplation and leisure. Whether with your feet on the ground or flying in the air.

A suggestion? Come at sunset: you’ll love it!

Chã da Cabeça

Natural Heritage

Heather and broom are the predominant shrubs, observed among native species such as lavender, gorse, narrow-leaved mock privet, hawthorn, and wild pear. From the rocks, the pink hues of wild carnations (Dianthus lusitanus), also called “cravetas” by the locals, bloom in the spring.

Among the tree species, the monumental eucalyptus stands out, having survived the devastating fire of October 2017. Visible from many kilometres away, it helps identifying the mountain and it’s a landmark in the landscape.

Chã da Cabeça

On the paragliding track, flowers such as purple toadflax, St. John’s wort, and viper’s bugloss bloom, attracting various species of butterflies in the spring.

The phenomenon of Hill-topping occurs here, where the males of various butterfly species go to the top of the hill and remain there, disputing the territory and awaiting the arrival of females in search of a mate. The concentration of butterflies that occurs makes this an area of special significance in terms of conservation.

Silver-studded blue

One of the smallest butterflies, it mainly flies among the heather and broom shrubs and enchants with its uncommon blue colour in the mountains.

Butterfly Silver-studded Blue

Do you want to help the mountain?

Install the iNaturalist App and upload your photos of plants and animals from this location to help map the flora and fauna of the mountains!

Stories of Time

Built over a deep well that draws from the underground stream of Luso, this was the water source that much of Alveite Grande’s population relied on before the construction of fountains and public water supply to homes. An emblematic and beloved space, it holds many stories within, including that of its own evolution.

Already mentioned in the University of Coimbra’s Registry of 1589, the fountain didn’t always have this form, as it used to be at ground level. However, older people say that during the very dry summer of 1947 and with residents deepening their wells, water stopped flowing from the spout and work was needed to rebuild the spring. With stone and lime, the village inhabitants worked hard, resulting in this configuration with wall and stairs.

Until the 1980s, a simple depression dug in the earth collected water from the spout to serve the surrounding agricultural lands, but residents tell that losses through infiltration and the tireless work of moles would decrease the reserve and flow of current reaching their lands. The construction of the tank (1988) and the piping of the irrigation system allowed for greater efficiency in water storage and use, resulting in the network of channels still visible today.

Of Leisure and Labor

The fountain space early on assumed a unifying function in the village. People would meet here while fetching water or bringing their oxen to drink from the stone trough - they would talk and socialize. In the spout’s current they would leave lupins, in the tank they would gather watercress, and for St. John’s Day it was tradition to decorate the fountain with arches of vegetation, green canes, flowers and myrtle.

The surrounding lands were tilled, thus taking on different hues. Irrigation was done according to “water hours” or “hours of water”: each property had its hours and one had to go “cut the water” to exercise this right, be it day or night.

Water Reserve, Life Reserve!

The fountain’s tank, as a body of still or slow-moving water, represents an area of high importance for both Humans and Nature. Beyond its landscape and contemplative value, its contribution to fighting fires and minimizing drought effects, the relevance of this water reserve also translates into ecological and environmental terms.

For all its functions, these types of structures are fundamental in preserving biodiversity - flora and fauna. They are not mere water reserves, they are sources of life!

The Green Frog, Marbled Newt, and Fire Salamander are frequent amphibians here, joined by the Viperine Water Snake, seen slithering through the waters. On summer nights, fireflies can be seen wandering…

Between May and the end of summer, dragonflies and damselflies are regular inhabitants of the fountain. These insects play an important role in controlling food chains and managing ecosystems, helping to control agricultural pests and disease-vector insects.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Almost 1 m tall, it is the largest of the herons occurring in Portugal and has been spotted several times at the Alveite fountain tank. Usually solitary and very elusive, it flies away when it senses people’s presence.

Photograph by Fernando Romão

Did you know…

…these were once University of Coimbra lands? Among the paths, near the fountain, there is an ancient marker with the inscription “DEV” carved in stone. These initials are an abbreviation of “VniversidaDE”, owner of this territory in bygone times. The same marker served to delimit the parishes of São Miguel and Santo André de Poiares until Decree Law 38,886 of August 29, 1952.

From stone to lime

The Sobreirinho kiln represents the lime production process. Many locals still remember removing soil from the quarries in baskets on their heads to uncover the stone, which was then extracted and transported here by carts.

The stones were stacked in a “dome” shape, and then the fire was lit using brushwood/wood, which had to burn day and night. Through this firing process, the rock was calcined and turned to lime.

In this kiln they produced brown lime that was used in construction and agriculture.