Salselas

   Macedo de Cavaleiros

 The village of Salselas became famous for the making of roofing tile and oxcarts. One of the hiking trails of Azibo goes through here and is entitled “of the Old Ovens” due to the various ceramics ovens, one of them from the Roman time and style. The Rural Museum and the Archaeology Museum Room (located in the Central Core of Azibo’s Lagoon Protected Landscape, also accessible through Vale da Porca), turn Salselas into a tourist destination. The Pauliteiros Group of this village is another visit card.

   Its present parish church is dated from 1727, with fine retable woodcarving and painting on the panelled ceiling, dating from the Baroque period. The Chapels of St. Joana, St. António and St. Francisco are also part of the religious registration. You can find there interesting items such as a well preserved diving fountain, and the Águas Santas Fountain. In the centre of the village and next to one of these fountains, you can find a monument allusive to Dr. João Gonçalves, a distinguished and benefactor doctor, who married and lived in this village, and was also an historian and literary author. Another famous writer from Salselas with many books published is António Cravo, a poet and researcher, who spends his days between Macedo de Cavaleiros and Paris.

The villages of Limãos and Valdrez are also associated with the village of Salselas, being Valdrez a noun which is epistemologically originated from Vale (valley) de Rez (rez was an old word for a bovine or stag.)

From all the estate in Limãos we point out the Parish Church, St Marcos Chapel and St. Alexandre Chapel; Manor-houses Figueiredo Sarmento and Morgado Limãos, with its chapel and the stoned family arms. The several diping fountains, all different but very typical, also deserve our attention. This village is situated at the bottom of a small clay valley typical of the Mount Morais (Rede Natura 2000 and Biótopo Corine), which in Winter time fills up with water and is crossed by the Limãos Creack, with its village bridge built over half a century ago, which shows the monogram MN (standing for Matas Nacionais - National Woods).

One of the branches of Azibo River flows between Limãos and Olmos, in a deep cliffy channels, perceptible from Castle’s Crag, a cliff which is worth visiting. Those who love adventure and beautiful landscape should also visit the rest of the Valley, on the way to Balsamão. Limãos has an excellent rustic hotel, Casa dos Pinelas, placed in the centre of the village.

On top of this mount there are rupestral figures on the rocky outcrops. In Valdrez you should visit the parish Church, with its partially covered frescoes, dating from the 15th century, and the small chapel with an oracle to the Holly Spirit and to Our Lady Conceição.