CBR PR1 - Percurso Interpretativo Mata Nacional de Vale de Canas walking

Coimbra 1.1 kms

Description

The Vale de Canas National Forest Interpretive Trail (managed by the ICNF), is a 1.10 km circular trail that is part of the CIM-RC’s cross-cutting “Rivers and Wetlands” project and located within the protected area of the Vale de Canas National Forest. It allows visitors to discover the richness of the local fauna and flora, including both native and exotic species. Despite its short length, this trail is very interesting from an environmental and educational standpoint, offering great diversity in the species it hosts. In the so-called “Aromatic Garden,” visitors can observe a wide variety of shapes and colors and experience the aromas of the so-called PAM (aromatic and medicinal plants), such as the various species of thyme, mint, rosemary, oregano, lemon verbena, savory, fennel, and lemon balm, among many others. After this aromatic interlude, the path continues toward the lookout point, from which you can admire the grandeur of the forest and, in the background, the Serra do Carvalho. In addition to this spot with a panoramic view, the trail allows you to discover tree species native to the area, such as the Alvarinho oak, the cork oak, the holm oak, the chestnut tree, the beautiful specimens of boxwood, the maritime pine, and the stone pine. In the shrub layer, notable species include the service tree, the arbutus, the holly, the gorse, heather, and the gilbardeira—a species protected under the Habitats Directive. In the forest, you can also see beautiful specimens of Bussaco cedar, plane trees, silver linden, Atlas cedar, giant American thuja, and sequoias, among others. Take in this biodiversity while relaxing at the picnic area, and also enjoy the architecture of the Casa do Fogo. Wildlife is also present in this enchanted world of biodiversity that is the Vale de Canas National Forest. The most observant visitor can spot the Lusitanian salamander, the bush lizard, the Iberian frog, and, among the branches of the grove, the great spotted woodpecker, the greenfinch, or the chaffinch.