Peneda Geres National Park spreads from the plateau of Castro Laboreiro to the plateau of Mourela. This includes Peneda, Soajo, Amarela and Gerês mountain ranges. Spend a day or two out in this masterpiece painted by geological formations, winds and water.
Take a hike on the mountain and see the effects of the last glaciation. Meet locals in traditional villages, and munch on the local cuisine. Typical dishes from Gerês are goat meat, ham, sausages, sarrabulho porridge, seasoned pieces of pork loin, and “caldo verde” soup.
If you’re lucky, you might see a wolf, the Golden Eagle or the Pyrenean desman that live in these hills. Don’t forget to visit the castles in Castro Laboreiro and Lindoso. Both date from the Megalithic period. Along your hike notice the interesting milestones on the remaining stretch of the old Roman road that was once used by the legionaries to go from Braga to Astorga.
Walk through the narrow streets of Campo do Gerês, also known as São João do Campo. Its quaint granite houses, threshing floors, granaries and mills make for lovely pictures. Also visit the Ethnographic Museum of Vilarinho das Furnas, which is a reminder of the village submerged as a result of the dam in 1972.
The roads in the Peneda Geres are good. So, if you want to get around by car, you’ll be happy to know that you can still have a hands-on experience of the rural atmosphere of Gerês.
Check out our tours through the park.
