Máscaras de Ousilhão e Vila Boa
On foot through the land of the masks
A walking route that combines nature and tradition in the land of the Ousilhão Masks, one of the liveliest festivals in Trás-os-Montes. A seven-kilometre walk through unspoilt oak and chestnut woodlands, amongst pastures and chestnut groves, with a stop at Vila Boa de Ousilhão.
- Activity
- Percurso Pedestre
- Distance
- 14,0 km
- Elevation gain
- 459 m
- Elevation loss
- 469 m
- Altitude
- 717–1000 m
- Estimated time
- 4h
- Route type
- Loop
- Best season
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Waymarked
- Yes
- Code
- PPR17
Centre: Vinhais
The masks of Ousilhão are one of the liveliest traditions of Trás-os-Montes — and this route proves the village is also nature and calm. Living tradition. The masks of Ousilhão are at the heart of the Feast of Saint Stephen, held on 25 and 26 December — an ancestral winter ritual. The masked figures wear costumes of brightly coloured wool fringes and cowbells at the waist; they move through the village amid the noise and energy of the feast, in a gesture that wards off evil spirits, asserts the young before their elders and evokes fertility and prosperity. The art of the mask. Each mask is shaped by local artisans, with know-how passed down through generations — in wood, cork, metal or cloth, with features ranging from the zoomorphic to the grotesque. It is a piece of identity, not a mere prop: it is still made and sold in the village today, with growing demand, and its production is now also open to women, once kept apart from the ritual. The forest. From the start by the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Alegria, it plunges into an extensive oak and chestnut wood south of the N316, crossed almost to the edge of the Bragança municipality — about 7 km of genuine trails, half the route, in a quiet space that deserves to be preserved. Vila Boa and the return. Leaving the forest, the Ribeira de Regueiras and pasture areas lead to Vila Boa de Ousilhão, a good stop to refuel (cafés and traditional smoked sausage). Around the parish church, the route heads to Campo, with the Chapel of S. Roque, and, among pastures, vines and chestnut groves, returns to Ousilhão, ending by the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Alegria.Quick answers
How long is the Máscaras de Ousilhão e Vila Boa route and how much climbing does it have?
14.0 km, with 459 m of elevation gain. It is a loop route.
How long does the Máscaras de Ousilhão e Vila Boa route take?
About 4h (estimated time).
When is the best time to ride or walk the Máscaras de Ousilhão e Vila Boa route?
Recommended season: spring, summer, autumn.
Where does the Máscaras de Ousilhão e Vila Boa route start?
The route belongs to the Vinhais centre.
Is the Máscaras de Ousilhão e Vila Boa route waymarked?
Yes, the route is waymarked on the ground.
Where can I download the GPX for the Máscaras de Ousilhão e Vila Boa route?
The GPX track is available at https://naturasports.pt/percurso/mascaras-de-ousilhao-e-vila-boa/export-gpx.