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| Trás-os-Montes |
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| North
East of Portugal |
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| Trás
-os -Montes |
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Situated
in Trás-os-Montes, in the region of Montanhas
to the north east of Portugal and with the Spanish
mountains as neighbours, Montesinho is a fantastic
mixture of natural resources and very old cultural
heritages
Text provided by the Portuguese
Tourist Office (with minimal corrections)
The mountains carry on as far as the eye can see,
into Spain. Unexpectedly, there are coloured birds
and melodious bird songs that it is almost impossible
to hear in less hidden places. At a distance, against
the blue of the sky, you can follow the sinuous flight
of a royal eagle. At the crossing of the pathways
it is easy to detect the footprints of wolves and
foxes, deer droppings and to see where the wild boar
has passed. The
wolf is an ex libris of the region, as it is believed
that the greatest concentration of this species on
Portuguese territory is in Montesinho. The roe deer,
the fox, the wild cat, the badger and the otter are
other mammals that roam here. The most important of
the birds are the royal eagle, the kite, the hunting
kestrel and the field thrush. The horned viper, which
always avoids contact with Man, or less offensive
species such as the Sardanisca iberica (Iberian wall
lizard), can occasionally be seen. The numerous rivers
and streams are populated with trout, bass, snook
and barbels. The
immense forests of black oak are one of the region’s
main riches, which living in harmony with the sweet
chestnuts, the symbol of the natural park, contribute
to the balance of the forest. On the rocky slopes
there is an abundance of white birch, heather and
broom, whilst on the banks of the rivers there are
alders, willows, hazels and poplars. The
isolation provided by the mountains gave rise to the
development of unique cultural forms. The ‘Rionorês’
dialect itself, spoken by those living along the River
Onor and Guadramil, the community forges and ovens,
the cattle herding and the neighbourhood counsels
are living examples of the well rooted social and
community traditions.
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