Peneda-Gerês National Park Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês
Real Area: 50,000 hectares/193sq.mi
The Peneda-Gerês National Park extends along the Spanish frontier from the Castro Laboreiro plateau by way of the Peneda, Soajo, Amarela and Gerês mountains to the Mourela plateau in the south. Large areas within the park boundaries, which were officially defined in 1971, are protected nature reserves. The park can be explored by car, and also has several good walks.
The Peneda-Gerês National Park extends along the Spanish frontier from the Castro Laboreiro plateau by way of the Peneda, Soajo, Amarela and Gerês mountains to the Mourela plateau in the south. Large areas within the park boundaries, which were officially defined in 1971, are protected nature reserves. The park can be explored by car, and also has several good walks.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Accommodation is limited: there are a few pensions in the spa town of Gerês. Detailed information about the national park can be obtained from the visitors centers in Arcos de Valdevez, Gerês and Montalegre.
Topography
The park includes expanses of completely unspoiled country with magnificent forest and mountain scenery and beautiful artificial lakes. The highest peaks are in the Serra do Gerês, which rises within Portuguese territory to 1,545m/5,069ft in the Nevosa and 1,538m/5,046ft in the Altar de Cabroes.
Vegetation
The very varied pattern of relief gives rise to widely different micro climates, and in consequence the plant life of the park shows unusual variety. Moreover, the remoteness of this region has protected many endemic species from destruction by man, so that plants are found here which have disappeared from the rest of Europe. In addition to great tracts of coniferous forest there are stands of centuriesold oaks (particularly at Pincaes and Sao Lourenço), corkoaks (at Ermida), eucalyptus, and expanses of rocky country covered with heather.
Fauna
The wildlife includes deer, wild boar, hares, partridges, wild horses, lizards, snakes and even wolves and golden eagles.
Human settlement
The many archeological sites show that the Peneda-Gerês National Park area was one of ancient human settlement. The dolmens (megalithic chamber tombs) of Mezio, Paradela, Cambezes, Pitoes and Tourém date from the third millennium B.C. PreRoman, presumably Celtic, castros (camps) have been excavated at Pitoes, Tourém and Cidadelhe, and there are believed to be still more prehistoric settlements as yet undiscovered. Today some 15,000 people inhabit over 100 villages in the park.
Topography
The park includes expanses of completely unspoiled country with magnificent forest and mountain scenery and beautiful artificial lakes. The highest peaks are in the Serra do Gerês, which rises within Portuguese territory to 1,545m/5,069ft in the Nevosa and 1,538m/5,046ft in the Altar de Cabroes.
Vegetation
The very varied pattern of relief gives rise to widely different micro climates, and in consequence the plant life of the park shows unusual variety. Moreover, the remoteness of this region has protected many endemic species from destruction by man, so that plants are found here which have disappeared from the rest of Europe. In addition to great tracts of coniferous forest there are stands of centuriesold oaks (particularly at Pincaes and Sao Lourenço), corkoaks (at Ermida), eucalyptus, and expanses of rocky country covered with heather.
Fauna
The wildlife includes deer, wild boar, hares, partridges, wild horses, lizards, snakes and even wolves and golden eagles.
Human settlement
The many archeological sites show that the Peneda-Gerês National Park area was one of ancient human settlement. The dolmens (megalithic chamber tombs) of Mezio, Paradela, Cambezes, Pitoes and Tourém date from the third millennium B.C. PreRoman, presumably Celtic, castros (camps) have been excavated at Pitoes, Tourém and Cidadelhe, and there are believed to be still more prehistoric settlements as yet undiscovered. Today some 15,000 people inhabit over 100 villages in the park.
Related Attractions
Sao Salvador - Bravaes, Portugal
About 5km/3mi west of Ponte da Barca, on the outskirts of Bravaes, is the 12th C. little Romanesque church of Sao Salvador which owes its fame to its elaborately sculpted portals, where animal and plant motifs vie with geometric patterns and human faces. The interior also has rich relief decoration and carved friezes, as well as what is left of 14th C. frescos, the best of these being on display in the Soares dos Reis Museum in Oporto.
Arcos de Valdevez, Portugal
Straddling the Rio Vez 5km/3mi north of Ponte da Barca is the extremely picturesque little market town of Arcos de Valdevez (pop. 3,000), with a 14th century parish church (remodeled in the 17th century). In front of the church is a remarkably fine Manueline pelourinho; behind it, in the Praça do Terreiro, stands the 16th century Casa do Terreiro. Also worth looking at are the Baroque facade of the church of Nossa Senhora da Lapa and a monolithic column in front of the Espírito Santo church in the upper town, commemorating the town's support of Afonso Henriques in his conflict with the Spaniards.
Lindoso - Parque Nacional da Peneda-Geres, Portugal
The road passes the rather gloomylooking mountain villages of Britelo and Cidadelhe, with their sombre granite houses, ascending to Lindoso (alt. 468m/1,536ft; pop. 1,000), just before the Spanish frontier. Looming over it is a castle built under King Dinis in 1287, and here you can see more of Minho's typical espigueiros.
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Geres - Castro Laboreiro, Portugal
Castro Laboreiro is about 8km/5mi southeast of Lamas de Mouro. Its nearby castle was probably originally a Roman fortress, and was then rebuilt by Afonso Henriques and extended by King Dinis. It was, however, almost completely destroyed by an explosion when the powder tower was struck by lightning.
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês - Cabril Forest
Lindoso is the jumping off point for of good walk south to the Cabril Forest.
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês - Entre-Ambos-os-Rios
The Entre-Ambos-os-Rios entrance, 13km/8mi northeast of Ponte da Barca, is also often used for through traffic to Spain. The route runs east along what used to be the very scenic valley of the Rio Lima.
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês - Lamas de Mouro
The Lamas de Mouro entrance is at the north end of the park, about 10km/ 6mi southeast of Melgaço.
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Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês - Miradouro Leira do Canto
Lindoso is the jumping off point for a good walk to the Miradouro Leira do Canto, with a beautiful view of the Lima valley.
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês - Paradela (Covelaes)
The easternmost section of the park has two entrances, Paradela (65km/ 40mi northeast of Braga, on the Barragem de Paradela reservoir), and Covelaes (75km/47mi northeast of Braga, 13km/8mi northwest of Montalegre), providing access to narrow, little used tracks leading to the prehistoric sites of Pitoes and Tourém.
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês - Portela do Homem
Lindoso is the jumping off point for a good walk to the pass of Portela do Homem (822m/2,697ft) on the Spanish frontier, affording a magnificent prospect of the rocky valley of the Rio Homem.
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês - Sao Joao do Campo
From the Sao Joao do Campo entrance, 17km/10mi northeast of Terras do Bouro, you can either drive southeast along the narrow, winding little road to Caldas do Gerês, or take the old Roman road. This was built between A.D. 79 and 353, and runs along the southeast side of the Vilarinho reservoir up to the Portela do Homem on the Spanish frontier. It has the largest number of original Roman milestones on the Iberian peninsula.
Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês - Viarinho das Furnas
Lindoso is the jumping off point for a good walk to the artificial lake of Viarinho das Furnas.
Ponte de Lima, Portugal
The old world little town of Ponte de Lima lies a further 15km/9mi west of Bravaes, where the river Lima is spanned by a medieval bridge of 24 arches. The town also has several impressive 16th C. townhouses, an interesting Manueline portal on the former convent church Santo António dos Frades, and, in the Torre de Sao Paulo, a remnant of the medieval ramparts.
