Praia Fluvial do Penedo Furado (Pierced Rock River Beach) derives its evocative name from a distinctive geological formation—a massive boulder pierced by natural erosion creating a window-like opening—located along the Codes River in Vila de Rei municipality, Castelo Branco District, central Portugal. Vila de Rei, whose name translates to 'King's Village,' was established in the 13th century and named after King Dinis I who granted the settlement its royal charter. The river beach sits within Portugal's Centro region, an area characterized by mountainous terrain covered in extensive pine forests that supply the country's timber industry, with the Codes River flowing through steep valleys carved over millennia before eventually joining the vast Castelo de Bode Reservoir. The beach achieved official recognition when awarded Gold Quality status in 2024 for exceptional water purity, joining Portugal's network of inland river beaches (praias fluviais) that provide swimming alternatives to ocean beaches for inland communities. The construction of wooden walkways (passadiços) in 2019, extended in 2021 to create a 1.8-kilometer circular route, enhanced accessibility and visitor experience, connecting the beach to the Penedo Furado waterfalls upstream and establishing Vila de Rei as an emerging ecotourism destination.
The beach features crystal-clear river water flowing slowly through a natural channel carved into bedrock, creating calm pools ideal for swimming and wading, with depths rarely exceeding 2 meters in most accessible areas. The river's temperature remains refreshingly cool throughout summer, typically 18-22°C, providing welcome relief during Portugal's hot interior summers when temperatures can exceed 35°C. Facilities include parking, changing rooms, a seasonal beach bar serving snacks and beverages, picnic areas with tables under shade trees, and a children's playground making it family-friendly. The passadiços hiking trail, carved partly into rock faces and featuring wooden boardwalks suspended over the water, offers spectacular views of the surrounding pine-covered mountains and leads to Penedo Furado waterfalls where water cascades over rock formations into pools below. Adventure activities available through local operators include rock climbing on nearby cliff faces, abseiling down vertical rock walls, zip-lining across the river gorge, and canoeing along calmer sections of the Codes River. The Penedo Furado belvedere (viewpoint), accessible via a short uphill trail, provides panoramic vistas extending across forested hills to the Castelo de Bode Reservoir shimmering in the distance. Birdwatching opportunities include sightings of grey wagtails, kingfishers, and dippers along the river, while the surrounding forests host woodpeckers, short-toed treecreepers, and golden orioles. The area is accessible via the historic EN2 road, Portugal's longest national road running 739 kilometers from Chaves in the north to Faro in the south, passing through Vila de Rei approximately 10 minutes from the beach.
A Toca do Coelho (The Rabbit's Burrow) in Vila de Rei serves traditional Portuguese feijoada (bean stew with pork, chorizo, and black pudding), bacalhau à Brás (shredded cod with matchstick potatoes and scrambled eggs), and roasted kid goat with oven-roasted potatoes. Churrasqueira Central specializes in frango assado (Portuguese-style grilled chicken seasoned with piri-piri), grilled lamb chops with rice and homemade fries, and leitão (roast suckling pig) served with orange slices. Restaurante O Cobra offers caldeirada (Portuguese fish stew with potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers), arroz de pato (duck rice baked with chorizo), and chanfana (goat meat slow-cooked in red wine with garlic and bay leaves). Encosta da Muralha in nearby Castelo Branco, 35 kilometers south, features migas à Alentejana (bread-based dish with pork and garlic), açorda (bread soup with garlic, coriander, and poached egg), and queijo da Serra (mountain cheese from Serra da Estrela) served with quince paste.
