Arbutus Botanical Park of the Demo

Category: Nature > Park

District: Viseu > Vila Nova de Paiva > Queiriga

Location

Situated in the locality of Queiriga, in the municipality of Vila Nova de Paiva, this park is set within a natural landscape of great beauty. Its rural surroundings are characterized by mountain and valley landscapes, with dense vegetation that reflects the essence of the Paiva highlands. The park is immersed in a forest context, inviting direct contact with the nature of Beira.

Origin and Vision

The Arbutus do Demo Botanical Park was born from the conversion of an old forest nursery, a project that, since its inception in the 90s, has been dedicated to a comprehensive vision. The objective was to create a space that integrated the dimensions of environment, leisure, culture, and science. Thus, the park comprises distinct domains, such as a central square, a vegetable garden and orchard, a conservation area, an arboretum, and a nursery, each contributing to a diversified experience.

Botanical Richness

It spans a vast area, housing over a thousand different botanical species. The space is particularly notable for the presence of native flora and the diversity of vegetation. It includes a natural alluvial meadow and a small lake that enriches the landscape, serving as a habitat for various riparian animal species. The park's name, Arbutus do Demo, pays homage to the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), an emblematic and popular shrub in the region, which marks the identity of the place.

An Invitation to Discovery

More than a simple garden, the Arbutus do Demo Botanical Park offers an environment that invites tranquility and learning. Its design respected the history and past of the space, maintaining original buildings and pre-existing water systems, in a harmonious fusion between legacy and modernity. This is a place where nature is presented in an arranged and diversified way, providing an immersive experience with the colors and sounds of the natural world, situated in the heart of the 'Terras do Demo' (Devil's Lands), an expression popularized by the writer Aquilino Ribeiro.

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