Why this ride
Open upland riding with long sight lines and varied gradients. It also links naturally to Historic Centre of Guimaraes.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Minho Green Roads
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 175 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 2 h 26
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
The recorded total and the leg detail need reconciliation. Inspect the leg notes before using this record for timing or navigation. 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.
Access context
Check wildfire closures, heat and local road works. Specific flag: rain.
Seasonal context
Apr-Oct
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Braga
Braga is Portugal's most religious city, and also one of its oldest. It was founded by the Romans as Bracara Augusta in the first century BC, became a Christian bishopric in late antiquity, and has been a seat of the Church ever since. Its cathedral, begun in the eleventh century, is the oldest in the country and mixes Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque, and the city's skyline is a thicket of church towers. During Holy Week, its processions, with hooded penitents and torchlit marches, are among the most intense in Portugal.
Read the complete Braga write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Braga sits at 0 km, early in the day. Next is Ponte de Lima.
2. Ponte de Lima
Ponte de Lima is the sort of town that has been charming people for nine hundred years, and the old bridge across the Lima is the reason it exists. The Romans built a crossing here on the road between Braga and Astorga, and the long granite bridge you see today stands on those old foundations, with medieval arches added. The town's own legend says that Roman soldiers refused to cross the river because they thought it was the River of Forgetfulness, until their commander went across and called out each soldier by name. A charter was granted in the early twelfth century, which is why locals say theirs is the oldest town in Portugal.
Read the complete Ponte de Lima write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Ponte de Lima comes up 41 km in. Next is Monção.
3. Monção
Monção sits on the Minho river, which here forms the border with Spain, and you can see the Galician town of Salvatierra de Miño from the riverbank, close enough to wave at. For centuries this frontier was a front line, and the old fortress walls of Monção, with their bastions, tell that story. The town's most famous tale dates from the fourteenth century, when it was besieged and food ran short. The besieged are said to have thrown bread at the enemy, who believed the town still had plenty of supplies and gave up. The heroine of the story is remembered as Deu-la-Deu Martins, and her name is attached to the town's heritage to this day.
Read the complete Monção write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
81 km in you reach Monção. Next is Braga.
4. Braga
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Braga write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Braga, late in the day.