Natural park of Montesinho

A natural park of incredible diversity

In the North-East of Portugal, in the district of Bragança, there is a large and well preserved natural area. The Montesinho Park, which covers 75,000 hectares, is one of the most beautiful natural parks in Portugal.

You can explore this place for one or more days, depending on your program and your desires. It is possible to visit it on foot, thanks to the many well-maintained hiking trails, but also by bike.

Fauna and flora: an invaluable wealth

The park of Montesinho is constituted by hilly landscapes, even mountainous. In some places the vegetation is rather low: there are many shrubs typical of the region and heathers, beautiful to observe in spring when they bloom. In other places, the arid vegetation gives way to oak and chestnut forests. These trees represent an important part of the local agricultural culture, the chestnut being one of the main regional culinary products.

The biodiversity of this very preserved area has remained rich. Animal species that have become rare have found refuge here, such as the Iberian wolf, which has the largest population of this species in the entire Iberian Peninsula. A large number of birds can also be observed in the park, including 125 species of nesting birds such as the Golden Eagle or the Black Stork. In total, it is estimated that 70% of Portugal's animal species thrive in this area. A true paradise for animal lovers who want to observe them in complete freedom and in their natural habitat. if this is what you are looking for, the best thing to do is to go through the park early in the morning and stop to take time to observe the surroundings.

Rivers & Waterfalls

There is nothing like swimming in the crystal clear waters of a river to cool off. And it's a good thing: several rivers cross the park and hikes allow you to access river beaches and preserved waterfalls.

You can follow various itineraries, more or less sportive. For families, the ideal is to stop in the village of França, in the heart of the park. It has a river beach very easily accessible and ideal for swimming with children.

If you want to venture more into nature, you can walk to the "Poço Negro" waterfall or plan a hike near a river and get off the track for a swim.

Authentic "transmontanos" villages

Bragança and the Montesinho Natural Park are part of the Trás-os-Montes region, a territory with a strong agricultural culture that has remained particularly authentic. It is therefore not surprising to discover beautiful villages, reflecting the soul of Portugal.

Among these villages, I invite you to discover Montesinho (the same name as the park), França, Aveleda or Rio de Onor. The charming stone houses and the feeling of having arrived at the end of the world invite you to dream and make you feel good.