The works, starting in December, will include drainage improvements and take 180 days to complete. The 34.8-kilometre trail links Jolda to Sistelo and remains a major ecotourism attraction in northern Portugal.

The municipality of Arcos de Valdevez has opened a public tender worth €500,000 to restore a seven-kilometre section of the Ecovia do Rio Vez, which suffered severe damage during last winter’s storms.

Located in the district of Viana do Castelo, the project will rehabilitate the stretch connecting Arcos de Valdevez to the parish of Álvora. According to the municipality, construction is expected to begin in December and will include the installation of a drainage system designed to protect the pathway from future weather-related erosion.

Known also as the Sistelo Walkways or Vez Walkways, the Ecovia do Rio Vez is one of northern Portugal’s most popular ecotrails. Spanning 34.8 kilometres, it offers a mix of wooden walkways, dirt paths, and riverside tracks along the right banks of the Vez and Lima rivers. The route runs from Padreiro to Sistelo, the latter famously nicknamed “the Portuguese Little Tibet” for its terraced landscapes and mountain views.

The full restoration aims to ensure the trail remains safe and accessible for both residents and tourists, maintaining its role as a key attraction in the region’s ecotourism offering. According to the tender published today in the Diário da República, the rehabilitation works have a completion period of 180 days.

Initially built in 2013 at a cost exceeding €1 million and supported by European Union funds, the Ecovia do Vez is divided into three main sections: Jolda to Arcos de Valdevez, Arcos de Valdevez to Vilela, and Vilela to Sistelo.

With this new investment, the municipality seeks not only to repair last winter’s damage but also to preserve one of Portugal’s most scenic and sustainable walking routes, which is a vital element of local tourism and rural development.