Chestnut Coast Overview

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Tourist Attraction

District: Aveiro > Arouca > Albergaria da Serra

Location:

The Castanheira Coast Panoramic View is located in the locality of Albergaria da Serra, in the municipality of Arouca. Situated at an altitude of 1046 meters, it is the highest point of the Gralheira massif, known as Pico do Gralheiro, and is located near the small village of Castanheira. Its position, in the southwest of Serra da Freita, offers a unique perspective on the surrounding landscape.

An Extensive Horizon:

This location provides an extensive view over a vast area of the territory. On clear days, it is possible to observe several Portuguese mountain ranges, such as Serra da Arada, Caramulo, Serra da Estrela, and Serra de Montemuro. The landscape also encompasses the Serra da Freita plateau, the Vouga valley, and even the Atlantic Ocean in the distance, with the city and Ria de Aveiro, and the urban area of Porto. The Frecha da Mizarela, the largest waterfall in continental Portugal, is also visible from this point.

The Castanheira Coast Panoramic View invites contemplation of the grandeur of a landscape that stretches to infinity, being a notable spot to appreciate the tranquility of the mountain landscapes and the spectacle of a sunset.

The Weather Radar:

At the summit of Costa da Castanheira stands the Arouca Weather Radar, an infrastructure serving the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). Inaugurated in 2015, this equipment is the most recent and modern in the country, essential for weather forecasting and monitoring, monitoring atmospheric phenomena in the northern region of Portugal.

The radar building has a tenth floor that functions as a panoramic viewing deck. From there, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree view of the entire surrounding landscape, complementing the external observation.

Geological Heritage:

The Castanheira Coast Panoramic View is a geosite recognized by the Arouca Geopark, given its relevant geomorphological and cartographic importance. The site rests on metamorphic rocks over five hundred million years old, offering a testament to the region's ancient geological formation.

Observing the landscape allows for an understanding of the morphology and geology of Serra da Freita and neighboring morphostructural sets. It is possible to identify notable differences in elevation, such as that caused by the Felgueira-Preguinho fault, which shaped the landscape of the Gralheira massif.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt