Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Parque Natural do Tejo Internacional
Still one of Portugal's wildest landscapes, this 230-sq-km natural park shadows the Rio
Tejo and the watersheds of three of its tributaries. While not aesthetically remarkable, it
shelters some of the country's rarest bird species, including black storks, Bonelli's eagles,
royal eagles, Egyptian vultures, black vultures and griffon vultures. The park was estab-
lished in 2000, after a major push by private environmental organisation Quercus.
The park office in Castelo Branco can provide background information. The best-
marked hiking trail, the Rota dos Abutres (Route of the Vultures), descends from Salva-
terra do Extremo (60km east of Castelo Branco) into the dramatic canyon of the Rio
Erges.
Drivers can get a taste of the park's natural beauty by following the unnumbered road
between Monforte da Beira and Cegonhas (southeast of Castelo Branco), which passes
through a beautiful cork oak forest on either side of the Ribeira do Aravil. It doesn't ap-
pear on all maps: pass through Monforte da Beira if coming from Castelo Branco, and
turn right after 2km. Alternatively, a signposted turnoff to the park just short of Monforte
takes you down a rough circular route through part of the park, but the way's not well in-
dicated.
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Monsanto
POP 200 / ELEV 600M
Like an island in the sky, the stunning village of Monsanto towers high above the sur-
rounding plains. A stroll through its steeply cobbled streets, lined with stone houses that
seem to merge with the boulder-strewn landscape, is reason enough to come. But to fully
appreciate Monsanto's rugged isolation, climb the shepherds' paths above town to the
abandoned hilltop castle, whose crumbling walls command vertiginous views in all direc-
tions. Walkers will also appreciate the network of hiking trails threading through the vast
cork-oak-dominated expanses below.
Sights
 
 
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