Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There is a scattering of
Stone Age dolmens
and
antas
(megaliths) on the high plateaux of the
Serra da Peneda and Serra do Gerês, near Castro Laboreiro, Mezio, Paradela, Pitões das
Júnias and Tourém. Not all are easily accessible, but there is a good road from the park
gateway in Mezio to
Gião
. Once home to the Mezio people, it's considered to be one of the
most important rock compounds in the northwest Iberian peninsula.
Wildlife
In the more remote areas a few wolves still roam, as do wild boar, badgers and otters.
With luck, you may catch a quick glimpse of roe deer and a few wild ponies. Closer to the
ground are grass snakes and the rare venomous black viper. Birders should look out for
red kites, buzzards, goshawks, golden eagles and several species of owl.
The park's domestic animals are also of interest - and don't tend to run away so
quickly. In particular, primitive local breeds of long-horned cattle (the mahogany- col-
oured
barrosã
and darker
cachena
), goats, sheep, and the huge, sturdy Castro Laboreiro
sheepdog are all unique to the area.
Sheltered valleys hold stands of white oak, arbutus, laurel and cork oak. Forests of
black oak, English oak and holly give way at higher elevations to birch, yew and Scots
pine, and in alpine areas to juniper and sandwort. The endemic Gerês iris grows in a small
patch of the Serra do Gerês.
Outdoor Activities
The park is alive with adventure options. Hiking trails ranging in length from 1km to
30km abound in all sections of the park. Signage is solid, mountain-bike rental is easy to
source, and swimming holes beckon. Rio Caldo is the centre for water sports, and the
thermal springs of Vila do Gerês are worth a dip.
Information
An EU-assisted consultancy, Adere Peneda-Gerês (
Click here
)
, which was formed to spur
ecotourism in the region, is the best resource on the park. Materials available include
pamphlets on the park's natural, architectural and human landscapes, and about village-to-
village walks on marked trails. There's also a booklet on accommodation.
Adere Peneda-Gerês is also the booking agent for many campgrounds, shelters and rur-
al houses located in the park. You can peruse pictures, read about and book accommoda-
tion online at
www.adere-pg.pt
.
