In the Area
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- Bicycles
The Historic Villages of Portugal Cycle Route Network is the largest cycle route network in the country, with over 3,500 km of signposted trails connecting the 12 historic villages. This network offers a unique cycle tourism experience, combining history, culture and nature.
- Bicycles
The Cyclin’ Portugal Centre in Guarda offers an impressive network of 11 cycle routes — 9 mountain bike trails and 2 road routes — that cross the contrasting landscapes of the municipality, from the gentle Beira plateaus to the slopes of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park.
- Bicycles
The Centre’s network of trails comprises a set of four itineraries, ranging from the foothills to the highest areas, with connections to the Cyclin’Portugal Centre in Manteigas and the GR 22 – Grande Rota das Aldeias Históricas (Great Route of Historic Villages), which is also cycle-friendly.
- Bicycles
The centre offers several trails of varying lengths (10–40 km) and degrees of difficulty, ranging from easy to advanced. The trails pass through iconic landscapes such as granite peaks, clear streams, oak groves and the ever-present River Zêzere, whose banks offer places to rest, take photographs and contemplate.
- Bicycles
The cycle routes of the Mountain Villages offer a unique way to explore the heart of the Serra da Estrela, cycling along rural roads, ancient trails and mountain paths that reveal the essence of the territory. Connecting several of the region’s most authentic villages, this network of routes allows you to discover magnificent landscapes, historical heritage and communities that keep the mountain culture alive.
Designed for different levels of experience, the routes include options for both leisure cyclists and more experienced mountain bikers or gravel riders. Along the way, there are natural viewpoints, forest areas, crystal-clear rivers and stone villages where you can rest, sample local products and experience the hospitality of the mountains.
- Hiking
The Gouveia Trail Network is an open invitation to explore, in an authentic and sustainable way, the unique landscapes of the Serra da Estrela and the rural heritage of the municipality of Gouveia, where we highlight the Veredas e Barrocas Route, which can be started directly from our resort. Comprising several walking and cycling trails, this network offers a privileged way to discover the area, through paths that connect nature, history and the culture of mountain villages.
Each route has been designed to reveal the diversity of the municipality: from mountain areas with great views over glacial valleys to native forests, waterways, pastures and traditional villages. Along the trails, you can see elements of the rural landscape such as levadas, mills, stone walls, corrals and terraced fields — living testimonies of an ancestral relationship with the land.
- Hiking
The Mountain Village Trail Network is a true gateway to discovering the authenticity, nature and culture of the Serra da Estrela. Connecting more than 40 walking trails, this network runs through breathtaking landscapes and villages steeped in history, offering visitors a unique experience in the heart of the mountains.
- Hiking
The Network of Historic Villages of Portugal is much more than a set of trails — it is a journey through time, where every step reveals surprising landscapes, ancient memories and the resilient character of the people who inhabit this territory. Connecting the 12 Historic Villages, this network of walking and cycling trails runs through the heart of the country, among medieval castles, centuries-old walls, granite hills and deep valleys.
- Hiking
The Mondego River Walkways are one of the most recent and spectacular ways to explore the nature of the Serra da Estrela. About 12 km long, this walking trail connects the village of Videmonte to the Cabril area, in the municipality of Guarda, following the course of the Mondego — the largest river that originates in Portugal. Along the way, the walkways wind through stunning landscapes, with views over the rugged Mondego valley, imposing rock formations, native forests and crystal clear waterfalls. The wooden structure has been carefully integrated into the natural environment, providing an accessible, safe and immersive experience, ideal for families, hikers and photography enthusiasts.
- Hiking
The Manteigas Trail Network is one of the most authentic ways to experience the Serra da Estrela, through paths that cross some of Portugal’s most impressive natural landscapes. Located in the heart of the mountains, the municipality of Manteigas combines pure nature with mountain tradition, offering visitors a network of well-marked trails that reveal the soul of this territory. The trails run through dense forests, clear streams, granite cliffs, glacial valleys and picturesque villages, always with the imposing mountains as a backdrop. One of the highlights is the Zêzere Glacial Valley, one of the largest in Europe, where you can literally walk among the marks left by ancient glaciers, in a setting of rare beauty.
- Nature
The Serra da Estrela mountain range hides magnificent river beaches, where you can enjoy the cool, crystal clear waters of the mountains while contemplating the imposing green of the surrounding nature.
Inature.pt – Aquapolis.com
- Nature
Located in central Portugal, the Serra da Estrela Natural Park is the country’s largest, featuring its highest mountain peak at 1,993 meters. This region is defined by dramatic landscapes, including ancient glacial valleys like the Zêzere Valley, mountain lagoons, and granite cliffs. The park boasts a rich biodiversity, with unique plant species such as the Serra da Estrela bellflower and wildlife including golden eagles and wild boars. It is also a place of harmonious human presence, known for traditional shepherding and the famous Serra da Estrela cheese. Offering a network of trails, the park is an ideal sanctuary for those seeking an authentic connection with nature.
- Nature
Explore the Estrela Geopark, a UNESCO Global Geopark in Portugal’s Serra da Estrela, where nature, geology, and culture converge. Discover breathtaking landscapes with unique rock formations, glacial valleys, and the highest peak in mainland Portugal. The park showcases a rich biodiversity and a geological history stretching back to the last ice age, evident in sites like the Zêzere Glacial Valley. Committed to sustainable tourism, the Geopark offers a network of trails, interpretation centers, and guided activities for those seeking adventure and knowledge. Whether in summer or winter, Estrela Geopark provides a tranquil and fascinating escape into nature.
- Culture
The ‘Castelo de Folgosinho’, made of pure pinkish-white quartz, dominates the Mondego valley. The ‘castle’, built in the 1940s, is one of the largest quartzite structures in the country, offering one of the most beautiful views over the village of Folgosinho and the valley carved out by a clear stream. In the distance, the horizon disappears from view, leaving only the silhouettes of the mountains of Montemuro, Arada, Caramulo and Bussaco.
- Culture
The Castle of Linhares da Beira stands imposingly at about 820 metres in the foothills of the Serra da Estrela, dominating the Mondego valley. Built between the 12th and 13th centuries, this national monument consists of two walled enclosures, two defensive towers (the Keep and the Clock Tower), four gates and two cisterns.
- Culture
The Gouveia Ecological Park allows visitors to come into contact with the typical flora of the Serra da Estrela (more than 150 plant species) and observe native animals – wild boars, fallow deer, red deer, Serra da Estrela dogs, birds and reptiles – in an environment that evokes their natural habitat.
- Culture
Centre for Ecology, Recovery and Surveillance of Wild Animals – takes in, treats and returns injured wildlife to the wild, while also promoting environmental awareness and birdwatching activities among the local and regional population.
- Culture
The Casa Vergílio Ferreira – Para Sempre, located in the village of Melo, is a museum and cultural space opened in October 2024, which serves as a tribute to the writer Vergílio Ferreira (1916–1996), a native of this mountain village. Vergílio was a major figure in Portuguese literature, and this house pays homage to his childhood and work.
- Culture
The Casa da Vivência Judaica (House of Jewish Experience) in Gouveia is a space that preserves and celebrates the legacy of the medieval Jewish community and New Christians. It was built in the historic neighbourhood of Biqueira, the city’s former Jewish quarter.
- Culture
The Farmer and Cheese Museum, located at Quinta dos Cedros, at the entrance to Celorico da Beira, is a living tribute to the shepherds and farmers of the Serra da Estrela. Housed in an old rural farmhouse, restored by the local council, the museum promotes Serra da Estrela cheese as a central element of local culture, forming part of the region’s ‘Cheese Route’.
- Culture
The Serra da Estrela Interpretation Centre (CISE), located in Seia, is the ideal starting point for discovering the Serra. Set in a green park covering around 2 hectares, the CISE combines science, environmental education and leisure. Here you will find various interactive exhibitions covering topics such as the biodiversity and geology of the Serra da Estrela.
- Culture
The Bread Museum, located in Seia, is the largest complex in the world dedicated to the heritage of Portuguese bread. It offers a multi-sensory and educational experience through four themed rooms — Bread Cycle, Art of Bread, Political/Social/Religious Bread and the fun World of Hérmios (aimed at children), where you can get your hands dirty.
- Culture
The Serra da Estrela Sheep Interpretation Centre aims to preserve, promote and enhance the Serra da Estrela native sheep breed and its economic, historical and cultural importance in the Serra da Estrela region.
- Culture
The Automobile Miniature Museum in Gouveia is the only museum in Portugal entirely dedicated to miniature cars. Located next to the Town Hall, it was created through a partnership between collector Fernando Taborda, the Clube Escape Livre, the Town Council and the Automobile Club of Portugal.