Partners and Activities
From the immediate surroundings of Curral do Negro and the town of Gouveia, to historic villages, mountain trails, river beaches, culinary experiences and day trips, you’ll find ideas here to explore the region at your own pace, whatever the season.
🌿 Nature and Biodiversity
Discover the extraordinary natural wealth of the Serra da Estrela through guided walks, wildlife spotting, mycology (🍄) excursions, environmental education programmes and visits to the Gouveia Ecological wildlife Park, CERVAS and other organisations dedicated to nature conservation.
Gouveia Ecological Animal Park
Gouveia, 11 min
A large green space on the outskirts of Gouveia, ideal for families, peaceful walks and getting close to nature, home to both domestic and wild animals from the region. It features walking trails, leisure areas and a children’s playground, and is also home to CERVAS. parqueecolicogouveia.pt
CERVAS – Center for Ecology, Recovery and Surveillance of Wild Animals
Gouveia, 11 min
CERVAS is dedicated to the rehabilitation of wild animals and the conservation of biodiversity in the Serra da Estrela. Throughout the year, it organises visits, environmental education initiatives and nature observation activities for all ages. cervas.pt
CISE – Serra da Estrela Interpretation Center
Seia, 40 min
The Serra da Estrela Interpretation Centre in Seia is the ideal starting point for learning about the mountain’s geology, fauna, flora and natural history. The interactive exhibitions help visitors to understand the richness of the Natural Park before setting off to explore it. cise.pt
UNESCO Global Geopark Interpretative Center
Manteigas, 45 min
Discover the geological heritage of the Serra da Estrela, recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark, through exhibitions, interpretative activities and information on the geosites, glacial landscapes and natural processes that have shaped the highest mountain in mainland Portugal. geoparkestrela.pt
Zêzere Glacier Valley Interpretive Center
Manteigas, 45 min
Situated in the heart of the Zêzere Glacial Valley, this centre helps visitors to understand the formation of one of Europe’s largest glacial valleys, as well as the fauna, flora and the evolution of the landscape and forests of the Serra da Estrela. civglaz-manteigas.pt
Veredas da Estrela
Figueiró da Serra, 20 min
Veredas da Estrela is a community association that promotes the Serra da Estrela through guided walks, voluntary work, environmental education activities and initiatives linked to natural and cultural heritage. veredasdaestrela.pt
Palombar
Linhares da Beira and Seia, 40 min
Palombar is an association dedicated to the conservation of nature and rural heritage in north-eastern Portugal. It promotes environmental education, wildlife watching, volunteering and biodiversity conservation initiatives. palombar.pt
Municipality of Gouveia
Gouveia, 10-20 min
Throughout the year, the Municipality of Gouveia organises a varied programme of nature walks, biodiversity walks, family activities and events dedicated to exploring the natural world of the Serra da Estrela. cm-gouveia.pt
🥾 Hiking and Outdoor Activities
Discover the mountains accompanied by those who know them best. Our partners organise interpretative walks, mountain trails, family activities and other outdoor experiences, tailored to the different seasons.
Genuine Mountain Experience
Gouveia, 8 min
Discover the Serra da Estrela through walks, private tours and personalised experiences led by a local guide certified in geotourism. A peaceful and authentic way to get to know the region’s nature, culture and traditions. GenuineMountainExperience.com
Estrela E-Bike
Manteigas, 45 min
Discover the Serra da Estrela on two wheels with e-bike tours, suitable for different levels of experience. An excellent way to explore the mountain, the villages and the natural landscapes, with the option of being accompanied by local guides. estrelaebike.pt
Serra da Estrela Trails
Gouveia, Seia, Manteigas, Celorico da Beira
Discover our selection of over 40 walking routes located within about an hour’s reach of Curral do Negro. With information on distance, duration, difficulty, mountain scenery and nature, you’ll find suggestions for all levels, seasons and walking styles. Walking Trail Network
Natural.pt
Serra da Estrela Natural Park
The natural.pt platform, run by the ICNF – Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests, brings together activities, nature guides and certified organisations in Portugal’s natural parks and protected areas. Visit the section dedicated to Serra da Estrela to discover more outdoor experiences and activities, at natural.pt
🧀 Gastronomy and Regional Produce
The cuisine of Serra da Estrela reflects its landscape, its traditions and the quality of its local produce. From the famous Serra da Estrela cheese to Dão wines, not to mention olive oil, honey, sausages, traditional bread and regional sweets, there are countless opportunities to discover the region’s authentic flavours through local producers, markets and small shops.
Many of the region’s wineries welcome visitors by prior appointment, offering tours, wine tastings and the chance to purchase their wines directly from the producers. A number of producers of cheese, olive oil and other regional specialities also open their doors to visitors, allowing them to gain an insight into the production methods and the traditions associated with them.
In the surroundings of Curral do Negro you will find a good offer of restaurants, cafes and pastries in Gouveia and in the neighboring villages:
- Chocolate & Tu Gouveia
- Lá m Casa, Gouveia
- A Sandra, Aldeias
- Sabores do Mercado, Gouveia
- Pãolourinho Pizzeria, Melo
- O Flor, Gouveia
- A Fonte, Gouveia
- O Jardim, Gouveia
- Bola Branca, Gouveia
- ABM Restaurant, São Paio
- Ponte dos Cavaleiros, Arcozelo da Serra (restaurant and cheese shop)
- Os Carvalhos, Gouveia (industrial zone)
- Quinta Madre de Água, Vinhó (winery, farm and restaurant)
- Ti Branquinho, Rossim Valley lake / Source of Mondego river (Judite’s cheese and ham sandwiches!)
- Pizzeria Italia, Gouveia
- O Albertino, Folgosinho
- Socorro Coffee and Pastry, Folgosinho
- Terra Verde and Regadas Bar Restaurant, Folgosinho / Figueiró da Serra
If, during your stay, you explore other parts of the Serra da Estrela, we also recommend making the most of your trips to discover some of the region’s most iconic restaurants, where you can sample the local mountain cuisine in places such as:
- Soadro do Zêzere, Valhelhas (Manteigas)
- Cova da Loba, Linhares da Beira (Celorico da Beira)
- Retiro do Castiço, Trancoso
For many visitors, enjoying a good meal whilst out walking in the mountains is one of the best ways to truly experience the Serra da Estrela.
Below, we have put together a selection of local producers, wineries and other places to visit that we recommend, where you can discover and purchase some of the region’s most iconic products, often directly from the people who make them.
Vim-do-Monte
Videmonte, 50 min
Manuel and Céu of Vim-do-Monte produce artisan rye bread using grain grown on the traditional plateaus of the Serra da Estrela, preserving local ingredients, knowledge and baking methods. Fresh bread on Fridays and on regional markets. vimdomonte.pt
Textura Wines
Gouveia, 10 min
A wine-making project dedicated to producing elegant and sustainable wines, whilst also promoting wine tourism experiences and tours of the vineyards and winery. texturawines.pt
Adega Cooperativa
Vila Nova de Tázem, 24 min
Founded in 1954, the Adega Cooperativa de Vila Nova de Tázem brings together the produce of dozens of winegrowers from the Serra da Estrela sub-region, preserving the tradition of Dão wines and organising tastings and direct sales to the public. adegatazem.pt
Casa da Passarella
Lagarinhos (Gouveia), 20 min
Founded in 1892, Casa da Passarella is one of the historic wineries of Dão, recognized for its centenary vineyards, wine tourism and wine production that reflect more than a century of winemaking history. casadapassarella.pt
Madre de Água
Vila Nova de Tázem, 25 min
Quinta Madre d’Água combines wine tourism, wine production and Serra da Estrela cheese in a setting surrounded by nature, offering tours, tastings and culinary experiences throughout the year. quintamadredeagua.pt
Antonio Madeira
São Martinho (Seia) 23 min
António Madeira is reviving old vineyards in the Serra da Estrela and producing low-intervention natural wines from the Dão region, showcasing indigenous grape varieties, traditional viticulture and the unique identity of the area. António Madeira Winery (Google Maps)
🧶 Crafts, Culture and Heritage
Discover the museums, visitor centres, craft workshops, traditional workshops, monuments and other venues that preserve the history, culture and traditional knowledge of the Serra da Estrela. Here are a few examples below. On our page dedicated to the Serra da Estrela, you’ll also find many other suggestions for museums, villages, activities and places of interest to complement your visit.
Bread Museum
Seia, 30 min
One of the most important museums dedicated to bread, where you can discover the history of rye, milling and traditional bread-making, all of which are deeply linked to the culture and economy of the Serra da Estrela. 🔗 Museu do Pão
Electricity Museum
Senhora do Desterro (Seia), 40 min
Installed in one of the oldest hydroelectric plants in Portugal, this museum reveals the history of energy production in Serra da Estrela and the importance of its rivers and dams for the development of the region, complementing the visit with a small pedestrian route and a nearby river beach. 🔗 Museu da Eletricidade
Burel Factory
Manteigas, 45 min
A former and still active wool processing factory converted into a visitor centre, where you can witness the traditional production of burel, see historic machinery and discover how wool continues to breathe life into one of the Serra da Estrela’s most iconic fabrics. Book online at: 🔗 burelfactory.com
Fio Handmade
Gouveia, 10 min
Discover Inês Barreiros’s project, which preserves the tradition of hand-weaving learnt from a veteran artisan from Gouveia. Each piece is hand-woven on a traditional loom. Located in Gouveia’s market building (Mercado Municipal). 🔗 Fio Handmade
Olive Oil Museum
Bobadela, 50 min (N17, direction Coimbra)
Discover the history of traditional olive oil production in a region where olive trees – particularly the Galega variety – are an integral part of the landscape and agricultural culture of the slopes and valleys of the Serra da Estrela. 🔗 museudoazeite.com
🗓️ Markets and Events
Throughout the year, the villages and towns of the Serra da Estrela host weekly markets, traditional fairs, local festivals and seasonal events that showcase the region’s produce, cuisine and traditions. The weekly markets usually take place in the morning, finishing around lunchtime, usually with food stalls available.
In spring, the fairs dedicated to Serra da Estrela cheese are a highlight, whilst summer is marked by local festivals and pilgrimages. There is also a growing number of markets featuring local, organic and artisanal produce, such as the monthly eco-market in Gouveia or the 🔗 Multicultural market of Côja, usually held on the third Saturday of each month (70 min – N17 on the way to Coimbra).
Check the local municipalities’ event calendars to find out what’s on during your stay.
Gouveia Weekly Market
Thursday morning. A traditional market selling vegetables, fruit, cheese, bread, sausages, clothing and other local produce.
Seia Weekly Market
Wednesday morning. One of the largest markets in the Serra da Estrela, bringing together local producers, traditional traders and agricultural produce from the region.
Manteigas Weekly Market
Thursday morning. A small traditional market where you can find local produce and experience the typical atmosphere of this mountain village.
Celorico da Beira Market
Monday morning. Traditional market known for agricultural products, Serra da Estrela cheese and regional trade.
Weekly Market of Trancoso
Friday morning. One of the largest and oldest traditional markets in Beira Interior, held next to the historic centre of Trancoso and known for its wide variety of agricultural produce, handicrafts and regional goods.
