The best cycling routes around Nunes

The Vinhais Biological Park is a protected natural area and conservation center located in the municipality of Vinhais, in northern Portugal, within the Montesinho Natural Park. This park plays an important role in the conservation of local biodiversity and in the promotion of environmental education.

This is a beautiful reservoir, with calm waters where you can even see large fish, although fishing is prohibited. On sunny days (which is almost always), the view over the lake is simply stunning. You can cycle along the entire western side of the lake.

Located in the heart of the Montesinho Natural Park, the Vinhais Biological Park invites you to discover the local landscape in all its forms, from fauna and flora to geology, culture and history. A space dedicated to conservation, biodiversity and ecotourism.

It is not known when the castle was built or which monarch ordered it, however some authors argue that it was King D. Dinis, since there are references to works in Praça de Vinhais with the construction of some towers during his reign. Due to its border location, the castle had great military importance, as the territory had always been coveted by neighboring monarchs.

The walls of Vinhais date back to the time of the Roman invasion. Later, the Suebi or Visigoths reinforced and broadened the defensive line in the context of the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. During the reign of King Denis of Portugal, the oval fence of the village was finished, with six towers, two of them flanking the main gate and one other, also integrated in the fence, functioning as a keep and an alcove. The castle's configuration, currently very dilapidated, would have a medieval image, in a late Gothic style. Already during the reign of King Manuel I of Portugal the degradation of the walls and of some towers was remarkable. Some bases of the old towers, a portal with a Gothic arch and a section of the barbican still remain.

The Biologic Park of Vinhais is a public facility installed by the Municipality of Vinhais, in the heart of the Montesinho Natural Park, more precisely in the old forest nursery of Vidoeira, in Prada, in the parish of Vila Verde, just 3 km from the village of Vinhais. The project of the Biologic Park of Vinhais was a pioneer with regard to the Trás-Os-Montes region, it was inaugurated on May 16th of 2008, and its main objectives are: Divulge of the Nature and Landscape of the Montesinho Natural Park; Environmental Education; Conservation of Nature and Biodiversity; Ecotourism

The military road built by the Romans to connect Braga, Chaves and Astorga passed close to the present-day site of Vinhais and the Ponte da Rauca bridge also dates from that time. The town was founded in the thirteenth century by the Portuguese king D. Sancho, being situated on top of a hill that the Romans had used as a lookout post, from which they could supervise the whole region. It was later fortified in the fourteenth century at the orders of D. Dinis. Vinhais has succeeded in preserving a number of very interesting monuments, such as the church of São Facundo (founded by the Goths) and the convent of São Francisco, although, perhaps more than anything else, it is famed for the great richness of its cuisine, particularly its sausages, which are best purchased at the annual Smoked Meat Fair held here in February.

The Vinhais Biological Park is a public facility installed by the Vinhais Municipal Council, in the heart of the Montesinho Natural Park. Its purpose is to interpret the region's landscape in its natural (fauna, flora and geology), cultural and historical components; to conserve nature, promote biodiversity and ecotourism.