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CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas and Pampulha Modern Ensemble

Plan this ride

Recorded distance
334 km
Riding-time estimate
6 h 16
Journey
Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis

Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.

Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.

Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.

Open this ride in CurveScout

Why this ride

A 334 km round trip from Congonhas - roughly 6 h 16 in the saddle. The stops in between: Historic Town of Ouro Preto, Pampulha Modern Ensemble and back through Historic Town of Ouro Preto. The stored terrain estimate reaches about 1,150 m; a measured road-elevation profile is not available. The line favours views over speed.

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

  1. 1. Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas

    Congonhas is a town of steelworks and iron ore in the hills of Minas Gerais, and on its highest ridge stands one of the great works of Brazilian art. The Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos is a pilgrimage church that looks out across the valley, and in front of it, along a stepped terrace, stand twelve Old Testament prophets carved from soapstone by the sculptor Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho, the Little Cripple. Their gestures are dramatic and slightly twisted, their faces intense, and they seem to speak across the town below.

    Read the complete Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas write-up.

    Recorded stop-planning note

    May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

    Planning note

    Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas is where the day begins. Next is Historic Town of Ouro Preto.

  2. 2. Historic Town of Ouro Preto

    Ouro Preto means Black Gold, and the name comes from the dark, iron-stained metal that miners found in the streams around here in the 1690s. The strike set off one of the biggest gold rushes in history, and within a few decades the town, then called Vila Rica, had become the richest in Brazil and one of the largest in the Americas. Today the gold is gone, but the town is still a spectacular set of whitewashed houses, baroque churches and steep, cobbled streets draped over a series of hills.

    Read the complete Historic Town of Ouro Preto write-up.

    Recorded stop-planning note

    May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

    Planning note

    Historic Town of Ouro Preto comes up about 56 km into the recorded legs. Next is Pampulha Modern Ensemble.

  3. 3. Pampulha Modern Ensemble

    Planning note

    about 167 km into the recorded legs you reach Pampulha Modern Ensemble. Next is back through Historic Town of Ouro Preto.

  4. 4. back through Historic Town of Ouro Preto

    Return visit. Read the place description above.

    Read the complete Historic Town of Ouro Preto write-up.

    Recorded stop-planning note

    May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

    Planning note

    back through Historic Town of Ouro Preto, late in the day. Next is Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas.

  5. 5. Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas

    Return visit. Read the place description above.

    Read the complete Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas write-up.

    Recorded stop-planning note

    May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

    Planning note

    Back at Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas. That is the ride.

Leg by leg

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas to Historic Town of Ouro Preto

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas → Historic Town of Ouro Preto is 56 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.

Historic Town of Ouro Preto to Pampulha Modern Ensemble

Historic Town of Ouro Preto → Pampulha Modern Ensemble is 111 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.

Pampulha Modern Ensemble to back through Historic Town of Ouro Preto

Pampulha Modern Ensemble → back through Historic Town of Ouro Preto is 113 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.

back through Historic Town of Ouro Preto to Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas

back through Historic Town of Ouro Preto → Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas is 55 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.

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