De Regoufe a Drave, a Aldeia Mágica

Located in the heart of Serra da Freita, Drave, known as the “Magical Village”, attracts a large number of onlookers due to the mysticism that surrounds it. This mythicism is intensified by the difficulty of access - carried out only by a 4km trail originating in the neighboring village of Regoufe. Drave thus keeps its fantasy aura, appearing on the horizon, imposing and framed in the mountains, attracting those who look at it.

Still in the district of Aveiro, but apparently isolated, we find the village of Drave, which attracts many visitors for the magic that only an abandoned and isolated village can have. Access is via a 4km trail starting in the village of Regoufe.

To reach Regoufe it is necessary to travel a long distance on mountain roads. Sometimes GPS has a tendency to deceive anyone who tries to get here by sending people to Regoufe via Covelo de Paivó, which in fact is not possible to do by car, so follow the signs carefully.

Once there, there are some places parking right at the beginning of the village. Even though these places are occupied, there are places where the road has projections providing parking spaces. Therefore, there is no difficulty in parking in Regoufe.

Access to the village of drave is made through the neighboring village of regoufe, which surprisingly only has 23 inhabitants

Regarding places to eat, and to our surprise, Regoufe has two places where you can eat and renew your energy. They are O Mineiro de Regoufe, a restaurente, and O Café da Ilda, a café. In both places it is possible to eat complete meals. The Restaurant was closed and, consequently, we went to Café da Ilda. In fact the choice was right because, in addition to the excellent food, the service was very good.

With only 23 inhabitants (as we were told in the village) Regoufe is a small town known for its deactivated tungsten mines.

You can choose to go to the mines first and then to Drave or, as we did, to follow Drave first and only at the end to visit the Mines.

We first decided to head towards Drave, the Magic Village. To get there, you have to walk the streets to the Chapel of Saint Amaro.

the trail starts next to the Chapel of Santo amaro, followed later by a bridge

You can find the route brochure para download here. However, the brochure will only be necessary if you want to read the historical information, as the indications on the spot are very explicit, raising no doubts.

The route follows through a bridge that, over a small river, leads to that which is undeniably the most difficult part of the path. This consists of a steep climb, all made of loose stones. Although it is difficult, it offers a beautiful landscape over the village and its mines.

This climb extends for a good few meters. Right after its end, we reach the top of a mountain range where the view over the neighboring mountains is breathtaking.

Apart from this climb, and although the rest of the path remains on identical ground, it no longer presents the same degree of difficulty.

the most difficult part of the route is the initial climb, but the landscape it offers at the top is breathtaking

The route, as previously mentioned, extends for 4km. In the final part it is already possible, for the most attentive, to see Drave in the landscape, inserted between the mountains.

Completely abandoned since 2009, the “Magical Village” is built entirely from schist, except the chapel. With no man as its inhabitant, except when the scouts or other visitors go there, Drave becomes an extremely peaceful place. In this calm, the sound of Ribeira de Palhais that passes there and that you can visit.

When visiting the houses, some open, they will quickly realize that Drave is currently the National Base of the IV Section of the National Scout Corps.

When visiting the village, take the time to read the plaque in the chapel, easily identified in the landscape by its white walls. Also pass by Solar dos Martins, at the top of the village.

drave, the “magical village” has been abandoned since 2009

Having known the village, the return journey begins. Perhaps due to tiredness, the return seemed a little more difficult.

Although the climb is not so steep on the way back, it becomes tiring because it is constant and made of loose stone. Thus, additional care is necessary, especially in the final part of the return. This consists of the (now) final descent, which being steep and in loose stone, becomes slippery.

Almost reaching the village of Regoufe, we were lucky to find a shepherdess walking her flock, offering a beautiful image for the end of the journey.

In total, the journey took about 4 hours between coming and going, counting the time spent getting to know the village. From Regoufe to Drave, called PR14, it is not a very difficult route and is worth the effort for the landscape it offers.

the drave houses are built in schist, highlighting the chapel, painted in white

Once back in Regoufe, we decided to visit our final destination, the Regoufe Mines, old abandoned tungsten mines. Having worked for much of the twentieth century, these mines occupied a total area of about 57 acres.

These mines had a very strong economic impact in the region, namely during the 2nd World War, when there was a great exploitation of the mines. In addition to the buildings, it is still possible to find some of the original buildings, now in ruins, as well as the entrances to the mines, although it is not recommended to enter.

Surprisingly, it is still possible to distinguish some elements of life from those who lived here permanently, such as, for example, the soccer field.

So, and for those visiting Drave, be sure to visit the Regoufe Mines.

Drave thus consists of a small paradise hidden from human life. This is certainly only possible due to its difficult access, however, and undeniably, the final destination is worth the effort. Since your visit must first start in Regoufe, take the opportunity to later visit the beauty that is the Abandoned Mines of Regoufe.