Located in the heart of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, in the beautiful municipality of Montalegre, Pitões das Júnias is one of the most traditional and picturesque villages in the region, which has managed to maintain its small population and the medieval aspect of stone buildings, being one of the main tourist attractions of this region in the summer months, already counting on some units of ecological tourism.

The origin of this original village is confused with that of the Monastery of Santa Maria das Júnias, located in an isolated valley, consecrated to the Lady of the Nails that ended up becoming Senhora das Júnias. The year of 1147 was the probable date of the foundation of the monastery of Júnias, as the date engraved on the church wall attests. It is known that the incorporation in the important Order of Cistercian occurred in the thirteenth century, being this the most isolated Cistercian establishment that is known.