Cotas: Vineyards, Church History and Hiking Trail PR17

Cotas invites you on a journey where wine landscapes, local production, church history and well-defined trails come together. If you are looking for a place for your holiday apartment or holiday home that offers a variety of discoveries, here you will find insights into the work of a winery, an independent cultural perspective and a hiking suggestion connected to the Douro Demarcated Region.

Vineyards on Steep Terraces

An important point of reference is Quinta da Romaneira, which offers tours and tastings in Cotas by prior appointment. The estate covers 412 hectares. The vineyards are laid out on terraces along the estate’s steep slopes, giving the wine landscape a clearly recognisable structure. Quinta da Romaneira produces its wines exclusively from grapes grown in its own vineyards. For you, this means that a trip to Cotas can involve not only a wine tasting but also a closer look at cultivation and provenance. You should arrange the tour and tasting appointment in advance.

Olives, Handcraft and Regional Specialities

The agricultural side of Quinta da Romaneira also includes olive groves. The traditional varieties Cordovil, Galega, Verdeal and Madural are grown there. The olives are harvested by hand in winter, crushed in a granite stone mill and then the resulting paste is cold-pressed. Such details also make the stay interesting for travellers who want not only to taste regional foods but also understand how they are produced. At Quinta da Romaneira’s wine shop in Cotas, opening hours from Monday to Friday are 09:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00.

Parish Church and Rural Character

Another facet of Cotas is represented by the parish church of Nossa Senhora da Natividade. Its floor plan has a single nave and a chancel. In terms of its layout, the church dates from the 17th century; it was remodelled in the first decade of the 19th century. Its distinctive location is another feature: the church stands in an isolated rural setting on a terrace-like churchyard that is set below the municipal road. The churchyard lies on the road to the village. For travellers interested in culture, this creates a different image of Cotas from that conveyed by the wine industry alone: architectural form, historical development and integration into the landscape belong together.

Hiking with a Fixed Starting Point

If you are planning a day of hiking, PR17, the Trilho de Castedo-Cotas circular trail, is one specific option. The trail starts and ends in Castedo and connects with PR16, the Trilho de Alijó-Castedo. On the way to Cotas, PR17 follows the boundary of the Alto Douro Vinhateiro. It also passes the Santa Marinha viewpoint. From there, you can enjoy views of the Douro and the landscape of the Douro Demarcated Region. When planning your day, you should therefore bear in mind that the circular trail starts and ends in Castedo.

Choosing the Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Cotas and are weighing up an appointment at Quinta da Romaneira against a day of hiking on PR17, take the circular trail’s fixed starting point in Castedo into account when choosing your accommodation. Check the date for the wine tour in advance and take the starting point in Castedo into consideration for the hike.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

You can discover more destinations here: Vale De Mendiz, Pinhao, Santa Eugénia, Alijó, Vilar de Maçada, Castedo, Pópulo and Favaios.

Back to the main travel overview: Alijó.