"It's not a landscape that the eyes contemplate: it's an excess of nature. A geological poem. Absolute beauty"
Casa do Lobo à Serra is located in Sedielos, a parish in the municipality of Peso da Régua (14 km / 20 minutes) on the border with the municipality of Mesão Frio (7 km / 10 minutes), towns that occupy the right bank of the Douro River at the beginning of the so-called Douro Demarcated Region (RDD). This region, recognised for its wines – Port (DO), Douro (DO) and Regionais Durienses (IG) – it stretches along the Douro river valley for around 120 km from Mesão Frio to Freixo-de-Espada-à-Cinta. It is the oldest demarcated and regulated wine-growing region in the world, dating back to 1756, and currently covers 250,000 ha, of which only 48,000 ha are used for wine production.
Depending on its climatic and morphological characteristics, the RDD is subdivided into three sub-regions: Baixo Corgo (roughly from Mesão Frio to Covelinhas and Armamar), Cima Corgo (up to São João da Pesqueira) and Douro Superior (from Ferradosa to Barca d’Alva and Freixo-de-Espada-à-Cinta).
Casa do Lobo à Serra is located in the Baixo Corgo where, unlike the Douro Superior, the temperatures are milder and it rains more. Due to the higher rainfall and less difficulty in creating deeper soils, among other factors, this sub-region is more fertile and is therefore the one where vineyards are most important, occupying around a third of its area.
The Alto Douro Wine Region, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001, makes up just 10 per cent of the vast Douro Valley, with an area of 24,600 hectares spread over the slopes of the Douro River and its tributaries Corgo, Varosa, Távora, Torto and Pinhão. It was honoured for perfectly representing the landscape beauty of the Douro.
Also noteworthy, due to its proximity to the RDD, is the Beira Douro Region, which is located on the geographical limits of the RDD and includes the municipalities of Tarouca, Moimenta da Beira, Sernancelhe and Penedono, as well as part of the municipalities of Lamego, Armamar, Tabuaço and S. João da Pesqueira. This region is home to one of Portugal’s newest wine regions, the Távora-Varosa Demarcated Region.
Today, as in the past, the geographical situation and the climate are an asset in the Douro, characterised by its lacy landscape, where the terraced vineyards draw real canvases to which one cannot remain indifferent, awakening a panoply of unique emotions that are appreciated whatever the season.
It is the combination of these factors and the work of man that results in the fantastic Douro and Port wines, and the Douro Regional wines. But this region is not all about wine, as its valleys are also favourable for growing olive trees, almond trees and other fruit species, especially apple, orange, cherry and peach trees.
There are many places of interest in this vast region, so we have chosen to highlight those in the municipalities covered by the Alto Douro Vinhateiro, with special emphasis on those closest to Casa do Lobo à Serra.

PESO DA RÉGUA
• S. Leonardo de Galafura Viewpoint
• Curvaceira Farm
• Bagaúste Dam
• Santo António Viewpoint
• Douro Museum
• Vinho do Porto Manor House
• Tile panels from the toil of the Douro
• Senhor da Agonia do Cruzeiro Chapel
• Peso da Régua metal bridge, pier and Douro riverbank
• S. Tiago Square, chapel and picnic area
• Águas Santas and Mesa dos Mouros
• Aldarete Community Village
• Parish Church of Poiares
• Muro Archaeological Site - Vilarinho dos Freires

MESÃO FRIO
• Quinta do Côtto
• S. Silvestre Viewpoint
• Senhora da Piedade Viewpoint
• Varatojo Franciscan Convent
• S. Nicolau Church
• Pelourinho
• Teixeira River beach mills
• Arte sacra museum
• Castro de Cidadelhe

S. MARTA DE PENAGUIÃO
• Sanctuary of Our Lady of Viso
• Parish Church of São Miguel de Lobrigos
• Fornelos River Beach
• King's Fountain
• Quinta da Cumieira
• Chapel of Saint Peter of Medões
• Pelourinho de Santa Marta de Penaguião

VILA REAL
• Mateus Gardens and Palace
• Cathedral
• Saint Dinis Church
• Fragas de Panóias
• Casa Diogo Cão
• Clérigos Church

SABROSA
• Torgueano de S. Cristóvão do Douro Viewpoint
• Sabrosa Hillfort
• S. Francisco Chapel
• Pelourinho de Provesende

ALIJÓ
• Avessada Estate
• Casal de Loivos Viewpoint
• Architectural complex of the Sanctuary of the Senhor de Perafita
• Statue in honour of the Douro Man
• Roman bridges of Carlão and Sanfins do Douro
• Viewpoint and Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Piedade in Sanfins do Douro
• Pinhão railway station with its famous tile panels

LAMEGO
• Boa Vista Viewpoint
• Museu de Lamego
• Cathedral, Castle and Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios
• S. Pedro de Balsemão Chapel
• Ribeiro Conceição Theatre
• Chapel of S. Domingos de Fontelo

ARMAMAR
• S. Domingos Viewpoint
• S. Miguel Mother Church
• Great House of Gogim – Earls' Manor House
• Goujoim Hillfort

TABUAÇO
• Seixo Estate
• Panascal Estate
• Alto da Escrita Viewpoint
• S. Pedro das Águias monastery
• Barcos Mother Church
• Nossa Sra. da Conceição Church

S. JOÃO DA PESQUEIRA
• Cidrô and Carvalhas Estate
• S. Salvador do Mundo Viewpoint
• Nossa Senhora das Neves VIewpoint
• República Square
• Ferradosa Railway Bridge
• Cachão da Valeira

VILA NOVA DE FOZ CÔA
• Ervamoira Estate
• Santa Bárbara Viewpoint
• Côa Natural Park, Foz Côa Cave Art Centre, Côa Museum
• Castelo Melhor Castle
• Numão Castle

WINE-GROWING VILLAGES
The Wine Villages Network includes the towns of Salzedas and Ucanha (Tarouca – Beira Douro), Barcos (Tabuaço – Cima Corgo), Provesende (Sabrosa – Cima Corgo), Favaios (Alijó – Cima Corgo) and Trevões (S. João Pesqueira – Cima Corgo). João da Pesqueira – Cima Corgo), which are towns of recognised historical, architectural and environmental value and where the various phases of the affirmation of the Douro’s reality are expressed, in its urban beauty and its viewpoints, in its socio-community spirit, in its legends and traditions, in its gastronomy.
For more details on the interests of each village, visit www.aldeiasvinhateiras.pt.
The distance between Casa do Lobo and the Serra and the wine-growing villages is (in approximate terms and by car):
Salzedas – 42 kilometres along the A 24 (highway) and EN 226 (national road), with an average journey time of 50 minutes;
Ucanha – 38 Km along the A 24 (highway) and EN 226 (national road), with an average journey time of 45 min;
Barcos – 40 kilometres along the EN 222 (national road), with an average journey time of 50 minutes;
Provesende – 53 kilometres on the A24 (highway), taking an average of 1 hour;
Favaios – 57 kilometres on the A24 (highway), with an average duration of 1 hour and 10 minutes;
Trevões – EN 222 and EM504 (national and municipal road) , with an average duration of 1 hour 15 minutes.

Port wine routes
The Port Wine Route can be travelled by car, train or boat. The port wine region is divided into 3 sub-routes: Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo and Douro Superior. The Douro is considered one of the wine regions with the most beautiful landscapes.
Routes through the Cistercian vineyards
Located in the Távora-Varosa region, the Cistercian Vineyards Route is where Portugal’s best sparkling wines are produced. This route carries a historical heritage linked to the Cistercian monks and runs through vineyards and chestnut trees.
Olive Oil Routes
From the Manueline capital to the engravings of the Côa Valley, in the centre of Trás-os-Montes, in a land of wines and formidable olive oils.
Activities of interest
- Trips by boat (including Rabelo boats and sailing boats), aeroplane, train, jeep or horse;
- Visits to estates with wine tastings;
- Cruises;
- Gastronomic and vintage experiences;
- Wine tasting workshops;
- Aquatic experiences (kayak, skis towed by motorboat).