North Portugal Tourism Guide - Montesinho Natural Park

Montesinho Natural Park Location

Montesinho Natural Park stretches for 70,000 hectares from the extreme north east of Portugal abutting the Spanish border across to the north west of Vinhais. Mountain range reach 1,481 metres in altitude. The main access points into the Park are from Braganca along the N103-1 road and Vinhais along the N316 road.

The eastern section of the Park is the only bit that is accessible by public transport. Buses run north from Braganca along the N103-1 to the quiet village of Franca and on to Portelo. Before reaching Portelo you can take a divert to the west to the spectacularly sited Montesinho on the border with Spain. Another regular bus service runs northeast from Braganca to the medieval village of Rio de Onor.

If you have your own transport you can explore the whole park, including the more remote western section, which is crossed by several scenic routes.

From the traditional Montesinho village of Vinhais you can see spectacular panoramic views of the Park. Horse-riding and mountain bike hire can be organised locally.

Wildlife in Montesinho - Portugal Geographical Features

The area was designated a natural park to protect the wildlife of this mountainous region but also the traditional culture of its inhabitants that have meant this landscape has survived into the 21st century.

It is one of the wildest regions in Europe that has meant a range of rare species are still able to survive here including wolves, wild boars, otters, wildcats and around 150 species of birds including eagles. The granite topped mountains are covered in heather with the lower lying areas cloaked in oak forests and grassland through which several rivers flow through the mountain valleys. The mountains are made up of both calcareous rock and granite outcrops at the highest elevations. The woodlands dominated by Pyrenean oak and chestnut are some of the most extensive woodlands and best conserved of its kind in Europe. You can see the best examples of this woodland type in the central area of the park. Alder, willow and ash are more dominant in the low lying riparian areas and birch is most commonly found at the higher altitudes. Holm oak dominated woodland is also found in the lower altitudes of the park with rare plants such as wild jasmine, white willow, peony (Paeonia broteri) and mock privet (Phillyrea angustifolia).

The geology of Montesinho includes slate and areas of chalk in the mountain plateaus with granite in the higher zones of the Serra de Montesinho. This varied geology together with the extremes in climate gives rise to a particularly diverse range of habitats and plants.

Cultural Heritage in Montesinho - Portugal Geographical Features

The area has changed very little since medieval times and ancient villages that house a population of around 9,000 people are dotted throughout the Natural Park such as Franca and Montesinho, whose traditional stone houses and cobbled streets are typical the region. Many of the paths date from the Visigothic Empire and some of the villages such as Fresulfe and Sernande still bear distinctly Germanic names.

Both the border villages of Rio de Onor and Miranda do Douro have been the subject of anthropological studies that provide a fascinating insight into the local way of life. The people of Montesinho Natural Park have developed their own dialects mixing Portuguese and Spanish. Ancient Celtic traditions still flourish with some similarities to Scotland and Ireland such as the playing of bagpipes in folk songs. It is also not uncommon to see women washing clothes in the rivers or donkeys being used as a means of transport.

Circular medieval dovecotes, called pombal, are dotted across the hillsides throughout the area with characteristic horseshoe shaped roofs. These were purpose-built to house doves that were reared for food, their droppings were collected and used to fertilise crops. Between Braganca and Vinhais are the ruins of the 12th century Mosteiro de Castro de Avelas that once held the main religious power in the region.

Montesinho Natural Park Information Offices

There are two offices for the Montesinho Natural Park. They can provide you with leaflets and maps of the park with information on the flora and fauna of the area and walks including circuits around Moimenta and Quintanilha:

Head office in Braganca; Bairro Rubacar, Rua Conego Albano Falcao, Lote 5, Apartado 90, 5301 - 901 Braganca. Tel: 351 273 300 400. Fax: 351 273 381 179. Email: pnm@icn.pt

Vinhais Office: Rua Dr. Alvaro Leite, Edifcio da Casa do Povo, 5320 - 332 Vinhais. Tel: 351 273 771 416. Fax: 351 273 771 416. Open: Tues-Sat 9.30 am-12.30 pm and 2-5.30pm