Attractions and Places To See around National Park Montesinho - Top 20

Rio de Onor is not just a beautiful village; it's a "living museum" of a way of life that has almost disappeared in Europe. It's worth visiting because it is possibly the village with the most fascinating social history in Portugal. Here are the 4 main reasons to go there: 1. It's a Community Village ("Communitarianism") This is Rio de Onor's great trademark. For centuries, the village lived under a system of total sharing among neighbors, something very rare: Sharing of Goods: The bread oven, the watermill, and even the village bull belonged to everyone. The "Rod of Justice": Decisions and fines for infractions in the village were marked on a wooden rod, managed by the "judge" elected by the people. You can see this history explained at the Casa do Touro (House of the Bull), a small, unmissable museum in the village. 2. One Village, Two Countries Rio de Onor is a village bisected by the international border. On this side is Rio de Onor (Portugal); on the other side is Rihonor de Castilla (Spain). For the inhabitants, the border never really existed: they share land, livestock, and even speak their own dialect (Rionorês), an ancient mixture of Portuguese and Castilian. It's very curious to cross from one country to the other on foot in the middle of the main street. 3. The Schist Landscape and Nature Located in the Montesinho Natural Park, the village is visually stunning. The houses are made of dark schist with wooden balconies, typical of Trás-os-Montes, and are very well preserved. The Onor River, which crosses the village, has clear waters and creates a very pleasant natural river beach in the summer, perfect for picnics. 4. The "Roman" Bridge The old stone bridge (which is actually from the 19th century, despite its popular name) is the village's postcard image. The reflection of the arches in the water with the schist houses in the background creates one of the most photogenic landscapes in Northern Portugal. Visiting Rio de Onor is like stepping back in time and understanding how communities survived in isolation in the mountains, supporting each other. It's a lesson in life and history in an incredible natural setting.

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.

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.

Considered the “bread tree” in the regions north of the Tagus, the chestnut tree was the staple food before the arrival of the potato and the main source of carbohydrates in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. This deciduous tree can grow up to 30 to 35 metres in height and reach diameters of up to 12 metres, although the trunk becomes hollow as the tree ages. It is very long-lived and can live for over a thousand years. The European chestnut tree (Castanea sativa Miller) belongs to the Castanea genus and the Fagaceae family, the same family that includes cork oaks and oaks in general. The genus includes 12 to 13 species, five of which are of Asian origin and seven of which are North American. The common chestnut tree is the only one native to Europe. This is a tree that managed to survive the last glacial period (Würms glaciation) in some parts of central and Mediterranean Europe and is currently found all over the world, including North and South America and Australia. Several studies indicate that the natural distribution of the European chestnut tree corresponds to these refuge zones, where it remained during the glacial events. These areas later served as starting points for the colonization of other regions, before humanity dedicated itself to cultivating the species. One of these refuges is located in the Picos de Europa region and another between the south of Galicia and the north of Portugal, which is why the chestnut tree is considered an indigenous or native species of our country. The chestnut tree grows well in temperate climates and the ideal conditions for its development are found in places with average temperature and humidity, where rainfall reaches at least 600 mm per year – more than 100 mm in the summer. It is, however, sensitive to late frosts and very low temperatures. It prefers soils at least 50 cm deep, loose and rich in nutrients, slightly acidic (pH between 4.5 and 6.5) and not calcareous. Although it can grow in less suitable conditions, it develops and produces best in coastal or mountainous areas, at medium altitude, with hot and humid summers and mild winters.

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

Rio de Onor is a sleepy little village right on the Portugal/Spain border. The drive through it is a challenging one and absolutely not recommended for larger campervans.

The Montesinho Natural Park covers an area of approximately 75 thousand hectares and is located in the Terra Fria Transmontana region, in the extreme northeast of Portugal, bordering the Spanish communities of Galicia and Castile-Leon. It covers the territories of two municipalities, namely Bragança and Vinhais. As a curiosity, you should know that there are more than 90 villages within the Montesinho Natural Park and that the highest point in the park is the Serra do Montesinho, whose peak is 1,486 metres above sea level.

The Montesinho Natural Park covers an area of approximately 75 thousand hectares and is located in the Terra Fria Transmontana region, in the extreme northeast of Portugal, bordering the Spanish communities of Galicia and Castile-Leon. It covers the territories of two municipalities, namely Bragança and Vinhais. As a curiosity, you should know that there are more than 90 villages within the Montesinho Natural Park and that the highest point in the park is the Serra do Montesinho, whose peak is 1,486 metres above sea level.