t Autumn foliage gilding the Serra da Estrela mountains
g The Beiras g Contents
F3 £ Covilhã, Guarda @ To Covilhã, Seia & Guarda; limited local service within park n Mercado Municipal, Rua Pinto Lucas Marrão, Seia (238 317 762); Covilhã (275 319 560); Gouveia (238 083 930); Manteigas (275 981 129)
A designated nature reserve, the Serra da Estrela’s long-distance paths and stunning flora attract walkers and nature enthusiasts, while a winter snowfall brings skiers to the slopes around Torre.
These “star mountains” are the tallest range on mainland Portugal. The highest point rises to 1,993 m (6,539 ft) but is topped by a small stone tower – the Torre – to “stretch” it to 2,000 m (6,561 ft) above the Zêzere river. The exposed granite of the upper slopes is good for little but grazing sheep, and stone shepherds’ huts, with thatched roofs, form part of the landscape. Sheep have shaped the fortunes of the area, providing wool for a textile industry and milk for Portugal’s best-known cheese.
t Autumn foliage gilding the Serra da Estrela mountains
Experience The Beiras
t The “Old Man’s Head” near Sabugueiro, formed by the erosion of granite
Serra da Estrela sheepdogs are reputed to have some wolf’s blood in their ancestry.
great View
Climb up mainland Portugal’s highest mountain for amazing views of the Zêzere valley. There are 1950s radar stations at the top, which make an interesting contrast with the natural scene set out below.