Levada da Castanheira

Madrei

Fontal Figueira or Fonte de Álvaro Figueira, Ribeira da Caixa N 32° 39.521' W 16° 58.767' ca. 155 m a.s.l.

Course

From the Madre at the Fontal Figueira or Fonte de Álvaro Figueira, and in the Ribeira da Caixa, it at once continues narrow and exposed to the crossing with the Caminho do Serrado. From here, parallel to the waterfall de Agua de Alto (Cascata do Lagar da Giesta), it drops steeply. In the past 3 watermills (Moinhos da Cacscata do Lagar da Giesta were operated here; their buildings still stand today.

Then it continues on the right of the Ribeira da Caixa, partly under the rock face, along a small path that later leads into the Caminho da Fonta da Roche.

On from there, a little in zigzags, to above the Escola Básica da Fonte da Rocha, where it meets the Travessa da Fonte da Rocha. Shortly afterwards it flows to the base of the Fonta da Pedra (Rocha Branca da Pedra), where additional water is taken in.

From here the levada runs, inaccessible, in the rockfall defences above the houses on the Rua de Sao Candido and the Avenida Bova Cidade (Centro Saude de Camara de Lobos). The inaccessible course on the steep wall ends at the 360-degree bend of the Estrada de Santa Clara. The end basin of the levada stands here today.

In the past it flowed under the Estrada de Santa Clara to the uphill side of the road and, in the area of today's tunnel of the Avenida da Autonomia, on to the cliff. From the viewing terrace on the Avenida da Autonomia the extremely exposed remains of the levada can still be followed for a short way.

The levada used to end on the other side of the cliff, in the area of the Avenida da Autonomia

End

Centre of Câmara de Lobos (Avenida da Autonomia) ca. 25 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Small levada for irrigating the local fields and the area around the centre of Camara de Lobos

Access

• Caminho das Preces

• Caminho do Serrado or Caminho do Serrado from the Rua Joao Ricardo Ferreira Cesar.

• Ponte do Serrado via the Caminho do Lagar da Giesta

• Travessa da Fonte da Rocha or on the other side of the Travessa.

Condition

The Madre is quite exposed; otherwise, along the Caminho da Fonte da Rocha, relatively easy.

The end runs very exposed on the rock face or in the rockfall defences and is barred. The old end from the Estrada de Santa Clara is partly destroyed and out of service.