Peneda-Gerês National Park Boundary

Category: Nature > Protected Area

District: Vila Real > Montalegre > Loivos

Location

Loivos, a locality in the municipality of Montalegre, marks one of the points where the vast territory of the Peneda-Gerês National Park meets the inhabited area. This boundary offers a unique perspective on the transition from the rural landscape to the vast protected nature. From Loivos, one can discern the first or the last contours of the mountain ranges that make up the Park, depending on the direction of our movement.

Transition Environment

This point in Loivos is not just a line on the map; it represents a hinge where the life and traditions of Montalegre meet the untouched vastness of the Park. It is a place that allows one to feel the transition from the rural environment, with its cultivated fields and small villages, to the more rugged and wild landscape that characterizes the interior of the protected area. Observing this boundary is to understand the complexity of the coexistence between human action and environmental conservation.

Landscape Perspective

The position of the boundary in Loivos offers a privileged perspective on the landscape that extends into the National Park. It allows one to contemplate the beauty of the Montalegre mountain ranges, which are an integral part of Peneda-Gerês, and observe the diversity of the vegetation cover, which changes according to altitude and sun exposure. This location invites careful observation and appreciation of the surrounding natural richness, providing a serene and inspiring setting.

Legacy and Regional Identity

The existence of this boundary in Loivos underscores Montalegre's deep relationship with the Peneda-Gerês National Park, the only protected area with this status in Portugal. The Park, established in 1971, aimed to protect a natural and cultural heritage of great value, and this boundary materializes that intention. It allows one to understand how nature conservation is integrated into the identity and daily life of the border communities, who have shaped and been shaped by this mountainous territory over centuries.

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