Portugal - Peneda-Gerês National Park

Peneda-Gerês National Park is the only national park in the country and is located in the north, near the Spanish border. The park is a vast and rugged wilderness, with towering mountains, lush forests, and crystal-clear rivers.

What did we do?

Sharon planned this part of our trip just so we could do some hiking, not exactly the hiking I like to do but we got in a workout.

Miradouro da Preguiça (Viewpoint)

Trilho da Preguiça (Lazy Trail) 👣 👣

She's the one who planned
a hiking adventure

Trail markers

Cascata de Leonte

Leonte Waterfall

Home of Leonte

Oh what is up there

It must be something good -- I'm
snapping a picture

A face is it Leonte?

Fountain

Cascata da Portela do Homem (Waterfall Homem)

Posto de Fronteira da Portela do Homem (former Border Crossing into Spain). No longer used since both countries are in the European Union.

Yes I had to step over the border

Casacata De Varzeas

Must have been an old mill

Lobo de Fafião

Calvado River

Ponte da Misarela (Devil's Bridge) we had to walk through a small village to the path.

WHY WHY must you get so close 
to the edge

Lunch Time

Video of falls

Up we go... Sharon's favorite part

Hey wait a minute how did
she get ahead of me

That didn't last long.
Back in front

Obrigados Pela Sua Visita
Thanks for Your Visit

Bom Jesus do Monte is a sanctuary built in the 18th century and is dedicated to the Bom Jesus, a popular Portuguese devotion to Jesus Christ. The stairway is divided into 17 landings, each of which is decorated with fountains, statues, and other religious imagery. At the top of the stairway is a church, a monastery, and a garden.

The funicular was completed in 1882 and is the oldest funicular in the world powered by water counterbalancing.  You have the option to walk up 577 stairs or purchase a round trip ticket for £3 to ride the funicular. We took the funicular up to the top.

Funicular going UP

Service was being held

Small Chapel

Oh look flowers

Hello!

Sharon took an unauthorized picture

Bells Bells Bells

OH LOOK! More flowers

Ice cream break

We love a wooden spoon

Great view

Break time

Is Sharon in there waving? She
wasted no time sitting down

I think she is being dramatic  🙄 

Funicular Going Down

The End!

Where did we eat?

Snacks on our patio thanks to our hostess who left us local wine and cheese.

We walked a whopping four minutes into town to Lurdes Capela. Service and food were great.

Salmon

Veal

Where did we stay? We stayed at the Chalet Villas Gerês in Villa Azevinho. This villa has a bedroom with double bed, bathroom and living room with open space kitchen. The perfect size for us. We booked directly through Chalet Villas as they were much cheaper than booking through AirBnB. There were orange and lemon trees right outside our door, but we did not get to enjoy their fruits.

Orange tree

Lemon tree

How did we get here? We drove from Porto with a stop at Bom Jesus do Monte in Tenões, outside the city of Braga before heading to Geres.

When did we visit? 1 Oct - 3 Oct, 2023

This is a 'must visit' park and very close to wine country. So glad we detoured from the coast for a few days.

“Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures.”