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About this place
Serra da Gardunha is a regional protected landscape in central Portugal, lying south of the town of Fundão and north of Castelo Branco. The protected area covers roughly 10,500 hectares and suits visitors who want quiet mountain walking combined with interesting natural habitats.
Where is Serra da Gardunha?
The range straddles two municipalities: the southern part of Fundão and the northern part of Castelo Branco. Geographically it is a branch of the Serra da Estrela within the Cordilheira Central, the central mountain system crossing the Iberian Peninsula. The reference point sits at about 40.096 N, 7.504 W.
What is protected here?
The area holds the status of Paisagem Protegida Regional, a regional protected landscape. Within it lies a Natura 2000 site, code PTCON0028, of about 5,900 hectares. The mountain supports 17 plant communities listed in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive, which makes it an important spot on the region's nature map.
Who manages it?
Coordination is handled by the development agency Gardunha 21 (ADG21), working under a protocol with the Fundão and Castelo Branco municipalities. Fundão has also proposed that the mountain become an Integrated Landscape Management Area (AIGP); I could not confirm whether that has been approved.
Which hiking routes can I take?
Several loop trails are popular:
- the Pedra d'Hera loop, starting from Fundão,
- the Castelo Velho loop, from Louriçal do Campo,
- the Miradouro do Cavalinho loop, from Alcongosta.
Each leads into a different part of the massif, so it is worth choosing your starting village based on where you are staying and how long you have.
Frequently asked questions
Is Serra da Gardunha a national park? No. It is a regional protected landscape, managed locally by the municipalities and the ADG21 agency.
How large is the area? The protected landscape covers about 10,500 hectares, of which around 5,900 hectares form the Natura 2000 site.
Where should I start a hike? Common starting points are Fundão, Louriçal do Campo and Alcongosta.
What does the range border? It lies between Fundão and Castelo Branco and forms a branch of the Serra da Estrela.
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