The poços de Manhouce (Manhouce pits) are located at the highest section of the river Teixeira, with abundant waterfalls and poços (natural pools). The poço Negro in Teixeira river, the poço of Cilha and the poço of Barreira in Vessa stream, and the poço of Gola in Manhouce stream, are some of the best known and frequented, and all of them are carved in hard rock by the force of the water. Many of these pits are preceded by waterfalls, which makes them small pieces of paradise surprising by its beauty and environment. Teixeira river, considered one of the best preserved rivers in Europe, is also one of the most beautiful mountain rivers, with narrow valleys, and breathtaking rugged landscape that harmoniously combines the green tones of the vegetation with the ocher tones of rock polished by erosion.
Forests are, in river Teixeira valley, exuberant. There we find the rare jersey tiger butterfly and the lesser purple emperor, tits, bullfinch, the great spotted woodpecker and common holly. On the water line are common the iberian emerald lizard and the gold-striped salamander and, in mountain peat bogs, the cyclamen-flowered daffodil is present. Among the mammals, we high light the cave bats found in the Minas das Chãs (greater horseshoe bat, lesser horseshoe bat and, common bent-wing bat), the pyrenean desman and the iberian wolf, species of priority conservation for Europe.
The village of Manhouce deserved in the past, the second position in the “most Portuguese village in Portugal” contest. Today maintains a set of well-kept houses with granite walls and slate roof. The Arouquesa (breed of cattle) graze freely in the village vicinity. The Manhouce bridge was built in the Roman period as part of the Empire’s road network. Bridge of a single arch all the way around, it is based directly on the foundation of the emerging rocky river bed. Presumed to have been built between the second century B.C. and the first century A.D.
