An Unforgettable Steep Drive to Alto de Sao Macario in Portugal
Portugal, europe
9.3 km
1,052 m
hard
Year-round
Alto de São Macário is a mountain peak sitting pretty at 1,052 meters (3,451 feet) above sea level in the Viseu district, nestled in Portugal's Central Inland region.
This gem is perched in the Maciço da Gralheira mountain range, and the road up? Totally paved—but don't let that fool you. It's narrow and seriously steep. The local road CM1123 is what'll get you there, and trust us, it means business.
Starting from Sul, you're looking at a 9.3 km (5.77 miles) grind that'll test your brakes and your nerves. You'll gain 812 meters of elevation along the way, with an average gradient of 8.73%. But here's where it gets spicy: some sections hit a brutal 14% gradient, so you'll definitely know you're working for this one.
When you finally roll into the summit, you'll be rewarded with the Santuario de São Macário (a beautiful monastery) and some communication towers. But honestly? The real payoff is the view. On a clear day, it's absolutely stunning—the kind of panorama that makes all those hairpin turns worth it.
Where is it?
An Unforgettable Steep Drive to Alto de Sao Macario in Portugal is located in Portugal (europe). Coordinates: 39.1127, -7.5799
Road Details
- Country
- Portugal
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 9.3 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,052 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 39.1127, -7.5799
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