Baixa Limia e Serra do Xurés Natural Park

Baixa Limia e Serra do Xurés Natural Park stretches across the southern part of the Ourense province in Galicia, Spain, right along the border with Portugal. Covering 209 km² (81 mi²), the park was established in 1993, making it one of the longer-standing protected areas in this part of northwestern Spain.

Where exactly is the park located?

The park lies within the municipality of Muíños, in the southernmost section of the Ourense province of Galicia. Its boundary runs directly along the line separating Spain from Portugal, so the protected land on both sides of the frontier effectively forms one continuous natural area, even though it falls under two different national administrations.

Where does the name Serra do Xurés come from?

Serra do Xurés is the Galician name for the mountain range running along the Spanish-Portuguese border. On the Portuguese side, the very same mountains are known by a different name — Gerês. This dual naming across a single mountain range is one of the most distinctive features of the area: one continuous chain of mountains, two names, depending on which side of the border you're standing on.

Does the park have a counterpart on the Portuguese side?

Yes — the Serra do Xurés/Gerês massif does not stop at the national border. On the Portuguese side, the same highlands are known as Gerês, reflecting the shared geographic and cultural history of this borderland. Because of this, Baixa Limia e Serra do Xurés is best understood as part of a larger, cross-border mountain complex rather than an isolated, self-contained protected area.

How large is the protected area?

The park covers 209 km² (about 81 square miles), placing it among the medium-sized natural parks of Galicia. This extent allows for a relatively coherent mountain ecosystem to be preserved, spanning both higher elevations and valleys close to the Portuguese frontier.

When was the park established?

Baixa Limia e Serra do Xurés Natural Park was formally established in 1993. The decision to place this land under protection fits into a broader pattern of legally safeguarding Galicia's mountainous border regions, which combine natural value with a distinctive location at the meeting point of two countries.

Frequently asked questions

Is Baixa Limia e Serra do Xurés one park or two separate protected areas? Formally, it is a natural park located on the Spanish side of the border, in the Ourense province. Its natural geographic extension, however, is the Gerês mountain range on the Portuguese side — the same mountains, under a different name and a different administrative jurisdiction.

Which municipality is the park located in? The park lies within the municipality of Muíños, in the southern part of the Ourense province in Galicia.

How long has this area been under legal protection? The park was established in 1993, meaning the area has been protected for more than three decades.

Why do the same mountains have two different names? This comes down to the national border cutting across the mountain range. On the Spanish (Galician) side, it's called Serra do Xurés; on the Portuguese side, Gerês. Both names refer to the same chain of mountains.

How big is the park's total area? The park covers 209 km², roughly equivalent to 81 square miles.