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Swings of Soure: A Route Through 8 Viewpoints, From the Mondego to Sicó

Philippe Nopel 21/04/2026
Swings of Soure: A Route Through 8 Viewpoints, From the Mondego to Sicó
Photo: impulsiveaddiction.com

Wedged between the **Mondego** river to the north and the limestone ridges of **Sicó** to the south, Soure is one of those **Baixo Mondego** municipalities you discover slowly — along secondary roads, scattered parishes, rice fields stretching to the horizon and quiet viewpoints that almost no guide mentions. It was from these forgotten corners that the town council built its **Swing Route**: a network of panoramic swings set up on high ground, picnic parks and riverbanks, designed both for locals south of Coimbra and for travellers passing through towards Figueira da Foz. We've gathered the **8 swings of Soure** currently mapped, with practical tips on access, photography and what else to see nearby.

Why stop in Soure

Soure isn't an obvious destination. It lies about 30 km south of Coimbra, roughly half an hour's drive from Figueira da Foz, and most people on the A17 or the IC2 motorway are heading somewhere else. Step off those roads onto the narrow lanes that connect the parishes and everything changes: the Mondego opens up into rice paddies, Brunhós turns emerald in May and golden in September, pine forests cover the hills, and to the south the white limestone walls of the Sicó range begin to appear — a different Portugal, drier, barer, quieter.

The swings are the most direct way to read that diversity in an afternoon. They sit on high points or next to water, are all free to access, can almost always be reached by car, and each was built with its own idea — one over the rice fields, one cross-shaped next to a chapel, one sofa-shaped outside a village association. More than collecting selfies, it helps to understand that the route was designed to spread visitors across the municipality and give you a reason to stop in every parish.

The swings of Soure

Soure Picnic Park Swing

The easiest of the lot — and probably the best place to start if you're arriving in Soure for the first time. It sits in the town's main picnic park, a few minutes' walk from the historic centre, with shaded tables and space to eat outdoors. Don't expect spectacular views: the interest here is family-friendly and urban — combine it with lunch, a walk through the village and a first, relaxed photo.

Soure – Brunhós Swing

The most photogenic swing on the route, by some margin. Built looking out over the rice paddies of Brunhós, it literally changes colour through the year: emerald green from May to July, a mirror of water during irrigation, amber-ochre just before the September harvest. Come at the end of the day: low sun rakes across the paddies and the light turns golden in seconds. It's the best swing in Soure if you're bringing a proper camera.

Capela Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Swing

Out in Vila Nova de Anços, this is the most unusual swing in the municipality: it's cross-shaped and sits right by the river, with the chapel of the same name in frame. It works almost like an open-air altar — you don't come here for the height of the view, but for the scenography: water, stone, cross and bell tower in a single shot. Combine it with a short loop through the village, which has generous streets and traditional houses in good shape.

Pouca Pena Swing

A sofa-shaped swing built for two, next to the Pouca Pena community association. It has that rarity of Soure's rural spots — easy parking — and a wide-open view over gentle hills. On clear afternoons the wind usually picks up, and the feeling really is of sitting on a sofa watching the world go by.

Vale da Galada Swing

The route's waterside swing. The view opens over a small reservoir in the Vale da Galada valley, with pine forests reflected on the surface on clear days. Come early in the morning, before the wind picks up and while the water still acts as a mirror — it's the best spot in the municipality for a symmetrical photograph, and there's almost no one around.

Soure – Alfarelos Swing

Out in Alfarelos, the parish best known for its railway station (a historic junction between the Linha do Norte and the Alfarelos branch line), this swing gives you a very different context from the others: agricultural plain, a wide view, little forest. It sits in the northern part of the municipality, close to the Mondego, and pairs well with a stop by the rice fields or with the drive back to Soure along the IC2.

Soure Swing (access via the wind farm)

The most adventurous approach on the route. You reach it from the EN348, heading from Carvalhal towards Degracias, turning left onto a dirt track that climbs up to the wind farm. It sits high, on the Sicó plateau, with a broad view over the limestone hills. Avoid it after heavy rain — the track gets difficult — and go in the afternoon, with the light dropping over the ridges to the west.

Degracias Swing

We finish at the southern tip of the municipality, inside the Sicó limestone massif. Degracias is a name that local cyclists and motorcyclists know well — the winding roads around it are a Sunday classic. The swing is in the Santo António area, in a very different setting from the rest of the route: drier, stonier, more mountainous landscape. Save it for last, after lunch in Degracias or Pombalinho.

How to get to the swings of Soure

You really do need a car. Soure has train connections (the Linha do Norte stops at Alfarelos) and buses to Coimbra and Figueira da Foz, but most of the swings sit in scattered parishes well off the public transport network.

Reference driving times:

  • Coimbra → Soure: about 30 min via the IC2/A17.
  • Figueira da Foz → Soure: 25 to 30 min via the A17.
  • Leiria → Soure: about 45 min via the A17 or the IC2.
  • Lisbon → Soure: 1h50 to 2h via the A1/A17.

To do the whole route in one day, budget about 100 km of internal driving (the municipality is large) and at least 6 to 8 hours with unhurried stops. If you only have a morning or an afternoon, pick three: Picnic Park + Brunhós + Vale da Galada cover the central part of the municipality well.

Swing safety

  • These swings are unsupervised outdoor structures. Use one at a time, and use your head.
  • Always check the ropes, hooks and seat before climbing on.
  • With small children, give physical support — none of these swings has a safety bar.
  • Some access roads are dirt. Avoid driving a low car up after heavy rain.

When to go: the best times for photographs

  • Spring (April–June) — the best window overall. Green rice fields in Brunhós, flowering hills in Sicó, mild weather, long days.
  • Early autumn (September) — the paddies turning gold before the harvest, warmer afternoon light, far fewer visitors.
  • Summer — possible, but the Baixo Mondego gets very hot between noon and 5 pm. Go at first light or during golden hour.
  • Winter — less obvious, but clear winter days give the cleanest long-distance views over the Sicó massif from the higher swings.

The best time of day for almost all of them is the golden hour, the last hour before sunset. Exception: Vale da Galada asks for early morning, when the reservoir is a mirror.

Families and accessibility

As a whole, the route is family-friendly — the swings sit in public contexts (parks, villages, riverbanks) and none of them requires a long walk. Best options with kids:

  • Soure Picnic Park — the easiest, with tables and shade right next to it.
  • Brunhós — reachable by car, and the rice paddies captivate young children.
  • Pouca Pena — the sofa swing works well for a child on a parent's lap.

None of the swings has formal adapted access. The Picnic Park is the closest to being wheelchair-accessible, but the surface can be uneven. For visitors with reduced mobility, a walk through the historic centre of the town of Soure (around the castle) is a much more comfortable alternative.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many swings are on the Soure Swing Route?

In this guide we've mapped 8 swings across the municipality — from the Picnic Park and Brunhós to the Capela Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, Vale da Galada, Pouca Pena, Alfarelos, Degracias and the Soure Swing by the wind farm. The town council keeps expanding the route, so newer spots may already be in place.

Are the swings of Soure free?

Yes. Every swing on this route has free, open access in public space. There's no ticket and no booking.

Can you do the whole route in one day?

You can, but it's tight. Count on 6 to 8 hours, around 100 km of internal driving, and at least one proper lunch stop. If you'd rather take it slow, split it across two days — or pick 3 or 4 swings for a relaxed afternoon.

Which is the best swing in Soure for photography?

Soure – Brunhós, with little doubt, because of how the rice fields change colour through the year. For symmetry, Vale da Galada at first light. For an unusual frame, the Chapel Swing (cross-shaped) in Vila Nova de Anços.

Do I need a car?

Essentially yes. There's a train to Alfarelos (Linha do Norte) and buses to Soure, but the route is spread across several parishes — without a car you'll only see a small part of it.

Conclusion

Soure isn't a municipality that sells itself with billboards — it's the kind you let yourself discover. The swings are, in this case, the perfect excuse to stop: they take you to the rice paddies of Brunhós, to the chapel in Vila Nova de Anços, to the panoramic sofa of Pouca Pena and, further south, to the limestone of Degracias. Eight viewpoints, eight different ways of looking at the same place.

If you're planning a wider loop through inland central Portugal, have a look at our guides to the Swings of Viseu and the Swings of the Douro — three different destinations, the same idea of looking at Portugal again, with your feet slightly off the ground.

Tags: natureza Baloiços

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