Geopark Naturtejo Meseta Meridional
UNESCO European and Global Geopark

Geopark Naturtejo Meseta Meridional, unifying the municipalities of Castelo Branco, Idanha-a-Nova, Oleiros, Proença-a-Nova, Nisa e Vila Velha de Ródão, has the main task to value the sites that act as key-testimonies of Earth History, instigating employment and promoting regional sustainable development. The wonderful geomorphologic, geological, palaeontological and mining heritages are composed by geosites with national and international relevance, such as the fossils route of Penha Garcia, Portas do Ródão and Vale Mourão gorges, the Roman gold mine of Conhal do Arneiro and the granite morphologies from Serra da Gardunha and Monsanto.
Beyond geosites, Naturtejo Geopark integrates the International Tagus Natural Park and the protected areas in the scope of  Natura 2000 Network (Site Gardunha) and also the Important Bird Areas (Penha Garcia – Toulões and the quartzite range of Ródão), that show its ecological richness and environmental awareness.

The millenary History of this region is revealed by the presence of hundreds  archaeological sites, the highest concentration of Templar castles, churches and manor houses, reaching a rare diversity in Portugal. The Roman Civitas Egitania ruins in Idanha-a-Velha, the Palaeolithic settlements and Rock Art widespread in the Tagus valley, as well as the megalithic regions of Nisa and Rosmaninhal are vital spots of archaeological understanding. The ancestral costums, the lively testimonies of the multiple singularities borderland culture, have deep roots in the ancient landscape. The “most Portuguese village of Portugal” prize was given to Monsanto and the Shist Villages from Geopark are symbols of this ethnographic diversity which still very well preserved.

Nature Tourism

Geopark Naturtejo Meseta Meridional offers a strong trekking network, short and long trails, in Portugal. These trails to discover territory are the unifying lattice for multiple tourist hotspots. Under the Geology wonders you can find the Fossils Trail, the Mines Footpath and the Granites Footpath in Monsanto, all in Idanha-a-Nova, the Secrets of Almourão Valley Footpath (Proença-a-Nova) and the Cobbles Trails in Nisa. Besides the trekking routes, Naturtejo Geopark annually presents an original program of thematic trails, usually with a strong multidisciplinary interest.

In broad Fossils Trail (Penha Garcia) and Invasions Footpath (Vila Velha de Ródão) you can enjoy the Climbing School, which guarantees high levels of adrenaline during its activities, such as climbing, rappel and slide in the quartzites, and horse riding on old smuggling routes that crossed Penha Garcia syncline fold, a remnant of an ancient Himalayan-type mountain range with 300 million years old!

Water travels deep in Earth may be calmly enjoyed and better understood in the magnificent thermal spas of Monfortinho (Idanha-a-Nova) and Fadagosa de Nisa. There, let the Nature take care of you!

The quiet waters of Tagus River enable beautiful boat trips departing from Vila Velha do Ródão to explore the Portas do Ródão gorge , the gryphon vultures nesting areas and the Tagus’s Rock Art.

At Municipal Centre for Culture and Development (Vila Velha do Ródão), you will be invited to discover the ways landscape and Human culture are envolved together since more 150000 years ago, in Portas do Ródão Natural Monument.

Granite, an economical resource and art object, can be understood and appreciated at the Stonemason Museum (Alcains) and at the Sculptures Itinerary (Alpalhão).
Already in the International Tagus Natural Park, feel so small in one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries from Europe.

The geotourist activities play along with a huge and original supply of tourist quality products, from gastronomy to historical heritage or from sport events to traditional religious festivities.