Route on the top of inland Portugal

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On snowy days, before starting this tour, ask if the access to the Tower is open. The roads on this route are relatively narrow, so be extra careful. Put safety first! Almost all is part of the “Serra da Estrela” Site of Community Interest SCI, included in the Natura 2000 Network, and part of it crosses the Ramsar Site "Estrela Mountain upper Plateau and upper Zêzere River", e.g. a wetland of interest for birds. The "Serra da Estrela Central Plateau" is a Biogenetic Reserve, so if you have it, bring a camera and binoculars and be careful not to step on the plants or frighten the animals. Being a circular car route, it can be started at any point and we advise you to do it in different seasons, since the mountain is quite different with or without snow. It passes through Manteigas, Seia and several mountain villages, museums, sites of geologic, natural, and cultural interest and beautiful landscapes. It crosses mainly territory of Manteigas and Seia municipalities, along the upper plateau of Estrela mountain. It allows visiting some of the most emblematic points of the mountain range, such as the Torre Plateau, Penhas Douradas, the glacial valleys of Zêzere and Alforfa, Nave de Sto. António, Cântaros, Covão da Ametade, Vale do Rossim, the monumental sculpture in the stone known as Senhora da Boa Estrela, in Covão do Boi, Lagoa Comprida and the waterfall and fountain Paulo Luís Martins. This route allows you to discover several geosites. In fact, about 20,000 years ago thick layers of ice covered the highest areas. Slowly, the glaciers were sliding and dragging granite blocks, some of them gigantic, digging U-valleys. In some places, depressions, here known as “covões”, were formed, and, when poorly drained, gave rise to natural lagoons, some converted to hydroelectric plants. The different types of rocks, faults and fractures, gave rise to waterfalls and sources of fresh water. In a territory where the granite is king, the monuments are a mirror of this geological reality, so see the shepherds' shelters and the houses built using large blocks of stone, as well as the pillars and churches. Admire the terraces, built by the inhabitants to avoid erosion and to make a good use of the soil, not forgetting the mountain pastures and the rye fields. Although greatly altered by human occupation and fires, the vegetation has interesting aspects such as birch groves (the brides of the forest given its white bark) and some yew trees (a tree used to make bows). As we climb up the mountain range, vegetation is becoming rarer, but its natural value increases, with cervum (areas with the grass Nardus stricta), Dwarf Juniper (Juniperus communis ssp alpina) and peat bogs, all protected habitats at European level. Animals such as the Iberian Rock Lizard (Iberolacerta monticola), the Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), the Eurasian Eagle-owl (among the 150 species of birds registered here) find here a place to live, as well as species that depend on clear watercourses such as the White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus), the Pyrenean Desman (Galemys pyrenaicus), the Southern Water Shrew (Neomys anomalus) and the European Otter. Other animals such as the wild cat, weasels and badgers can also be seen in these places. Get to know the "Serra da Estrela" dog, an indispensable companion of the shepherds, gentle but courageous in the defense of the herds of sheep, many of the breed "Bordaleira Serra da Estrela", producing wool, used by the renowned spinning industry of this mountain range, and milk, essential to the production of one of the gastronomic landmarks of the region - "Serra da Serra" cheese. Valhelhas, located in a fertile valley with the rivers Zêzere and Famalicão, is a very old village that belonged to the Templars, so you can discover the patrimony and manor housesand spend some good moments on the river beach. In Manteigas, visit the manufacturing district, near the old wool factory, St. Peter's Church and other monuments. Rest, work out or merge in the S. Sebastião Leisure Park and, if you are a 2 wheels fan, visit the BTT Center. This is a typical mountain village with about 2,800 inhabitants (the county has about 3,400), mainly dedicated to agriculture, forest and sheep breeding, textile (now with innovative projects), sawmill and water industries, tourism and services. On Zêzere river valley, it is surrounded by magnificent mountains scenery. In spring try to see the Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus) and the Eurasian Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestres) nesting there. In Seia, visit the Bread, Electricity and Toy Museums, the Serra da Estrela Interpretation Center (CISE), to have a good understanding of this mountain area, the chapel of St. Peter and the church of Misericórdia, among other monuments. Take part in the many festivals and pilgrimages and taste the good gastronomy and snacks of the region, such as sausages (enchidos), rye or corn bread and Serra cheese. Taste the “caldudo” (a broth of dried chestnuts), the trout, feijocas de Manteigas guisadas (stewed beans), lambicada de cabrito (goating), cozido à serrana, febras de porco em vinha d’alho (pork in garlic and wine), feijão cozido no forno (beans cooked in the oven), chanfana (goat stew), sopa seca, migas, borrego guisado (lamb stew), cabrito assado no forno (kid roasted in the oven), matrafões and the desserts, like requeijão com doce de abóbora (curd with pumpkin jam), arroz doce (sweet rice), bolo de crista, bolos de leite (milk cakes), cavacas, esquecidos (tea cookies), regional cake, bolo doce de Páscoa (Easter sweet cake) or castanhas assadas com jeropiga (roasted chestnuts with jeropiga).