Tours of the Douro Valley: where wine culture meets natural beauty

For the Douro’s Miguel Torga, the Douro Valley “is not a panorama that the eyes contemplate: it is an excess of nature”. The phrase, like the nature it describes, is beautiful, but we would add that it is also an “excess of humanity”.

The landscape, and the astonishment it contains when it opens up before the eyes of the thousands of people who visit the Douro Valley, would not be the same without the strength and ingenuity of thousands of anonymous arms that, over the centuries, have shaped the warm Douro soil into the cradle of one of the most iconic and delicious nectars of the Gods ever produced under the sun.

It is in the synthesis of this unique union between Nature and Man that a place full of history and stories, mysteries and, above all, a beauty that makes you want to return to again and again, and which holds high the title of World Heritage Site.

If you’re interested in exploring this stunning landscape, consider doing so through Portugal Walking Tours, which offer a unique way to immerse yourself in the charm of the Douro Valley.

 

The Douro Valley’s rich history: from villages to vineyards

Although the first vineyards in the Douro date back to the Roman occupation, it wasn’t until the signing of the Treaty of Windsor between Portugal and England (the oldest treaty between nations still in force today) that the wine culture gained momentum in the region with the first estates controlled by wealthy English wine merchants.

This first wave of English wine merchants gave birth to some of the most iconic names in Port, such as Taylor’s, but if there are any names that deserve an honorable mention in the entire history of the Douro Valley, it’s Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, better known as Ferreirinha, and Marquês do Pombal.

A symbol of female entrepreneurship and Douro viticulture, Ferreirinha, as she was affectionately known among her workers, is still today an example of courage and selflessness among the people of the Douro.

As well as managing her more than half a hundred quintas (Quinta do Vale Meão, Quinta das Nogueiras, Quinta do Vesúvio, etc.) with an iron fist and investing in new techniques for growing and bottling Port wine, the “Queen of the Douro” was also at the forefront of the fight against the plague of phylloxera that struck the vineyards in the 19th century and against the poverty that raged in the region.

As well as Taylor’s, Symington’s and Ferreirinha, to talk about the Douro wine region is to talk about the Marquis of Pombal. It was up to this important figure in Portuguese history to transform the Douro into the world’s first demarcated wine region (1756) by placing 300 stone posts known as the “Pombaline milestones”.

*Fun fact: did you know that the history of the Ferreirinha family is intertwined with that of the Marquis of Pombal?*

It’s true. Under sentence of imprisonment, Bernardo Ferreira, Dona Antónia’s grandfather, was forced by the Marquis to cultivate some deserted land called Montes de Rodo. Over time, these “hills” became beautiful wine-producing estates.

However, there is no list long enough to contain all the millions of anonymous people who, in the vineyards or at the helm of the iconic Rabelo boats, planted, harvested and delivered to the Port wine cellars in Gaia, the wine that has made and continues to delight Port lovers.

It was also up to all these people to give shape to six typical wine-growing villages that helped shape the landscape of the Douro wine region: Barcos, Favaios, Provesende, Salzedas, Trevões and Ucanha.

Visitors are guaranteed unique and unforgettable experiences through their heritage, gastronomy and natural surroundings.

Also unforgettable is the trip on the Douro line train.

At its usual rhythmic pace on the rails, the train takes us through some of the valley’s most beautiful natural landscapes to the stations of Pinhão, a place embellished with ancient tiles alluding to wine culture, Pocinho and Barca de Alva, the latter marking the entrance to the high cliffs of the Douro International Natural Park.

However, no Douro Valley tour would be complete without a visit to the Douro Museum, Peso da Régua, which gives us another perspective on wine culture and the region, the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios in Lamego, Numão Castle and, of course, the Foz Coa Archaeological Park, an open-air rock art gallery classified as a World Heritage Site.

Traditional cuisine and handicrafts: a taste of Douro culture

The saying goes that “those who don’t eat, don’t work” and in the Douro, where the work is hard and long, this couldn’t be truer.

Wine, olive oil, chestnuts, almonds, figs, smoked meats, river fish, kid, lamb and even octopus are the main ingredients in a cuisine where culinary treats such as:

- Roast kid or lamb with rice from the oven and “papas milhas” with boiled pork liver from Cinfães;

- Grilled octopus and pears in muscatel wine from Alijó;

- Falachas and piled chestnuts from Mesão Frio;

- Meatballs from Lamego;

- Hare rice with cabbage from Freixo de Espada à Cinta;

And whether you’re coming or going, you can’t miss the famous francesinha from Porto to round off this gastronomic journey through the Douro Valley.

If all these dishes are food for the body, handicrafts are undoubtedly food for the mind.

While the generous food is being prepared, enjoy the rich costumes of Miranda do Douro’s pauliteiros in saragoza, burel and linen, Lamego’s chestnut basketry, bagpipes, embroidery and linen lace, Alijó’s black clay púcaras or Freixo de Espada à Cinta’s silk weaving.

Festivals and events in the Douro Valley: celebrating local traditions

Visiting the Douro Valley is also about taking part in the many events that punctuate the region and celebrating local traditions.

Mark your calendar:

- Essência do Vinho: between February 22 and 25, 2024, the Palácio da Bolsa in Porto will once again host this event dedicated to wine, which brings together the main protagonists of wine culture in Portugal and gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about the nectar of the Gods and taste some of the best Douro wines.

- Douro Wine City: although recent, this event in Peso da Régua is attracting more and more visitors eager to learn more about the Douro’s wine culture and traditions, as well as take part in wine tastings and regional Douro products, showcookings and tastings.

- Festa em Honra de Nossa Senhora do Socorro: although it lasts the whole month of August, it is on the weekend of August 15 that Peso da Régua’s star festival reaches its zenith.

On this day, thousands of people gather on the waterfront for a night of dancing and drinking that culminates in the famous Arraial do Rio, set against the backdrop of the River Douro and the terraces that surround the city.

- Harvest Festival: to mark the start of the grape harvest (September), various estates and municipalities in the Douro Valley celebrate the moment with festivals featuring local delicacies, music and, of course, wine.

In addition to this, many of these estates also allow visitors to have a complete harvest experience (picking and treading the grapes) and enjoy wine tastings and wine dinners.

- Feast in Honor of Our Lady of Remedies: between August 24 and September 9, thousands of pilgrims and revelers flock to Lamego to thank Our Lady of Remedies for the answer to their prayers and to celebrate with good Douro wine and meatballs.

Cycling the Douro Valley: trails and routes

To get to know a place or a culture in depth, the best thing to do is to get on your bike and set off to discover it.

So if you want to enjoy the best landscapes and immerse yourself in the culture of the Douro Valley, you shouldn’t miss out on the Douro Valley tours that Top Bike Tours has in store for you.

Firm in its mission to provide relaxing and fun-filled tours, complemented by different historical sites, good food and stunning landscapes, Top Bike Tours offers you four different Douro Valley cycling vacation packages:

• Douro Valley Wine Bicycle Tour

In 8 days and 7 nights, Top Bike Tours proposes to take you from Porto to Pinhão (Douro Valley tour from Porto) to fully immerse yourself in the natural and human landscape of the Douro Valley.

In addition to the beauty provided by the terraces and the river, during these tough journeys by bicycle (traditional, electric or road), you will be able to discover the particularities of the historic villages and towns of this region, their handicrafts, traditions, folklore and, of course, taste the best flavors of its gastronomy.

• Douro Wine Tour “Easy” (Porto tour Douro Valley)

Relatively easier than the route proposed on the previous tour, this bike tour (7 days and 6 nights) will take us cycling through the vineyards and olive groves of the Douro estates and, if we do it between September and October, to take part in the grape harvest.

In addition to all the historical and natural wonders that will be presented before our eyes, on your rest day you’ll have the opportunity to visit the cave paintings and the Côa museum.

• Trás-os-Montes & Douro International

With a guide or on your own, get to know the green valleys and mountains of Trás-os-Montes and the escarpments and terraces that mark the Douro International.

Delight in Mirandela’s alheiras and mirandesa meat, taste the fantastic olive oil from Macedo de Cavaleiros and terrincho cheese, sample the famous Moscatel de Favaios, visit the mysterious Vilariça Valley and take the opportunity to practice your mirandês (Portugal’s official language).

• Douro Valley Cycling Camp Training

If you want to train in peace and quiet and with an absolutely stunning view, the Douro Valley Cycling training camp is the ideal solution.

With quiet roads and good weather (from March to November), you can train for your next cycling challenge in the Douro Valley and take advantage of the extra activities that Top Bike Tours has in store for you.

To give your body a rest, you can enjoy the comfortable accommodation provided by our partner farms and indulge in the local cuisine.

Moments of relaxation: spas and wellness in the Douro Valley

After a trip along the trails and routes of the Douro Valley, nothing feels better than a moment of relaxation in one of the many spas that, in recent years, have set up camp in this UNESCO World Heritage natural and human landscape.

Among the many options to choose from, the following stand out:

• Quinta da Pacheca

A place where you can sleep in a wine barrel and taste some of the best Douro wines on a picnic with a privileged view of the iconic Douro vineyards.

• Douro Royal Valley Hotel Spa

Located in the municipality of Baião, this spa hotel gives you the chance to relax with your family in the company of a fantastic view over the River Douro. As well as a spa where you can enjoy deep muscle massages and/or facials, the hotel also has an indoor pool, an infinity pool with a bar and a fitness room.

• Six Senses Douro Valley

Located in the cinematographic Quinta do Vale Abraão, Six Senses Douro Valley is a true paradise.

After being welcomed with a glass of Port wine, we enter a world where we can enjoy a privileged view over the mountains and the river, a Wine Bar with daily wine tastings and wine dinners and a Spa characterized by treatments based on grapes and regional herbs.

In addition to all this, the hotel also offers a Douro Valley boat tour along the Douro River, guided walks through the centuries-old vineyards of Quinta de Vale Abraão and other estates in the region, and visits to the Paleolithic engravings of the Côa Valley.