Perched at the top of Portugal, two hours north of Porto, is Gerês National Park. Most travelers visiting Portugal spend time in the capital city of Lisbon or sunbathing on the sandy beaches of the Algarve, but those who venture further afield can soak in the resplendent natural beauty of Gerês, Portugal’s only national park. The park is incredibly expansive, occupying nearly 450 miles of Northern Portugal and spilling over into neighboring Spain. A drive on the winding, steep roads offers spectacular views of dense forests and local flora and fauna. Gerês is also dotted with hundreds of tiny ancient villages, many of which are still inhabited today. Stop off in Soajo or Lindoso to wander their cobbled streets and to view impressive collections of unusual stone granaries used to store crops in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Wild, wild horses
Gerês is a playground for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts with its thundering waterfalls, deep ravines and natural thermal springs. Hike, bike or run on what feels like endless miles of trails. On any given day, you’ll pass herds of cattle and flocks of sheep meandering the paved roads. Veer of the beaten path and climb to any of the park’s mountaintops for expansive views and you might even catch a glimpse of the indigenous wild horses peeking out from behind the giant boulders.
The Sunken Village
In 1967, construction started on a dam that would bring hydroelectric power to thousands across northern Portugal, but would require the small village of Vilarinho da Furna to be permanently evacuated. After years of protest, the last remaining residents left the village in 1971 and shortly thereafter the 2000 year old town was forever flooded. Today, a 2 mile hiking trail winds around the dam and during periods of low rainfall, you can catch a glimpse of the abandoned village peeking out from its watery grave.
A Natural Sanctuary
Nestled deep inside the park, a twenty minute drive from Soajo is the sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Peneda. The sanctuary sits shouldered against a colossal 300 meter granite outcrop of the Peneda mountains and was constructed in a similar style to the spectacular Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary in Braga.
