Today, we’re taking you on a trip to the remote, traditional, and slightly forgotten village of Soajo. Nowadays, you won’t find many things to do there, but the ones the village offers will take you on a short yet fascinating journey back in time. Picturesque granaries, wonderful views of the surroundings, traditional stone old town with quaint houses, winding streets… All of that creates a truly charming picture that can’t be missed while traveling around Peneda-Geres National Park. Vamos, let’s take a proper look at Soajo, Portugal.
Travel tip. A trip to Soajo can be easily combined with a visit to Lindoso village, located only 10km away.
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Soajo, Portugal FAQ
Soajo is a picturesque village located in Northern Portugal in the Alto Minho region. It sits at the altitude of 1416m a.s.l at the foot of Peneda-Geres National Park, only 10km from the Spanish border.
The answer cannot be other than – of course! Soajo is one of the best places to visit while discovering Peneda-Geres National Park. There, you can enjoy nature, take a breath of fresh mountain air, step back in time while wandering the village streets, and just immerse for a moment into Portuguese rural life. Soajo village is worth visiting, even for that short while.
Soajo village is best known for its scenic location in northern Portugal and the granaries, strange-looking constructions that were, and still are, used to dry and store grain.
Soajo, Portugal – Remote village in Peneda Geres National Park
Granaries of Soajo
Soajo’s impressive granaries, or espigueiros in Portuguese, are definitely the most unique highlight of the village. At first glance, a little bit strange-looking constructions were, and still are by some, used to dry and store grain. The granaries are often located in the slightly higher parts of the villages to increase the chances of catching more wind, thus providing better ventilation. They are also always elevated from the ground to protect grains from rodents.
In Soajo village, you’ll find 24 granaries from the 18th and 19th centuries, with the oldest one dating back to 1782. On each one, there is a cross on top to chase evil spirits away. Thanks to that, granaries are often mistaken for graves. In Soajo, the granaries can be found at the entrance to the village, right next to the parking lot, and some of them are inside the village next to the houses.
Those granite granaries are very typical for North Portugal, and we spotted quite a lot of single ones while driving in the area. The second granary cluster, even bigger than the one in Soajo, can be found in Lindoso village, just 10km away. There, you’ll find more than 50 well-kept espigueiros at the foot of the Lindoso Castle.
Soajo Old Town
Just a few steps from the granaries of Soajo, the charming streets of the stone village begin. While strolling around, you can feel like stepping back in time, and only a few places suggest that it’s still the 21st century!
Among Soajo village streets, you’ll find many stone houses, a small parish church (Paróquia São Martinho de Soajo), and a main square with an unusual stone pillory with a carved anthropomorphic face, crowned with a triangle resembling a hat. The village is very small and walkable, and you probably won’t need more than 1 hour to walk all the streets, even two times.
Ponte da Ladeira
Ponte da Ladeira is an arched medieval bridge located about 600m from the granaries of Soajo. It isn’t reachable by car, the only way to get there is by a short hike, just follow the signs. If you’re up for a bath in clear waters in a peaceful place – it’s a spot for you.
Poço Negro
Poço Negro is one more great place in nature near Soajo, located only about 1km from granaries. There you can relax in the shades of trees, or take a nice, refreshing dip into the water. To get there follow the signs on the road leading to Soajo.
Hiking trails near Soajo, Portugal
Soajo is located at the foot of Peneda-Geres National Park, a paradise for outdoor activities enthusiasts. If you want to discover the wonders of the area on foot, you can start in Soajo, which is a starting point for some trails. We didn’t have a chance to do any, but here on alltrails.com you can find some great ideas.
How to get to Soajo, Portugal?
Soajo is located at the foot of Peneda-Geres National Park, about 20km from Ponte da Barca, 40km from Ponte de Lima, 75km from Braga, and 65km from Viana do Castelo. The most convenient way to get to Soajo is by car or taxi.
Where to park in Soajo?
You can leave your car for free in this big public parking right next to the granaries of Soajo and the entrance to the village.
To Soajo by taxi
If you don’t own a car, and don’t want to rent one, you can also get to Soajo village by taxi. For example, the trip from Ponte da Barca will take about 20 minutes, 50 minutes from Viana do Castelo, and 40 minutes from Ponte de Lima. To learn more about taxi connections that interest you, visit the rome2rio.com website.
To Soajo by bus
You can also get to Soajo by bus, but it will be a long trip on a short distance. Also, there is usually only one or two buses a day, only from the nearby places like Ponte da Barca, Arcos de Valdevez, or Ponte de Lima. To learn more about bus connections that might interest you, visit the rome2rio.com website.
To Peneda-Geres with an organized tour
If you don’t want to put too much effort into planning, you can always take advantage of the guided tours and let someone else take care of all the details. You can for example choose this popular and well-rated Peneda-Gerês National Park Tour with Lunch From Porto, or this adventurous Hike and Swim in Gerês National Park. For more options of well-reviewed tours visit GetYourGuide or Viator.
Explore local attractions
Soajo, Portugal – Summing up
That was quick, as probably will be your visit to Soajo, Portugal. But don’t let that discourage you! Soajo is a truly stunning place worth visiting while exploring northern Portugal or the Peneda-Geres National Park area. No matter if you’ll stay only for a few hours or if you’re planning on staying a bit longer – we’re sure that Soajo and its surroundings will steal your hearr. Enjoy your time in Soajo!
Our opinion about Soajo village
For us, a visit to Soajo was part of a day trip to Peneda-Geres National Park from nearby Ponte da Barca where we lived for a few weeks. We visited it in early May, somewhere around noon, and during that time we were two of just a handful of other tourists out there.
We really liked the village. Strolling among stone houses, admiring scenic views, and unique granaries was a pure pleasure. We also loved how quiet the area was. No city sounds, cars, or loud people. Nowadays, such situations are rare, and we really appreciate them whenever we can experience them. Soajo quickly become one of our favorite places in Northern Portugal, and we definitely recommend visiting it.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Soajo?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Soajo:
Ola,
We have been reading and exploring and find them as you say ,
Thanks
S&S