Portugal: Serra da Estrela
The Serra da Estrela, the "Star Mountains", is located in Portugal's Região Centro, "Centre Region", not far from the Spanish border. It is the westernmost part of the Iberian Sheath Mountains, which extend from there to the centre of Spain. The highest mountain in the Serra da Estrela and the Portuguese mainland is the 1,993 metre high Torre. Large parts of the Serra are a nature reserve: The nature park established in 1976 and named after it covers an area of -thousand square kilometres, making it the largest protected area in the country. Hilly farmland stretches towards the Spanish border. In addition to the alpine-like mountain scenery, the region's so-called "historic villages" are particularly worth a visit, historic but mostly sleepy settlements such as Castelo Mendo, Idanha-a-Velha, Linhares da Beira and Monsanto. Guarda is enthroned on a granite rock 1,075 metres above sea level, making it the highest town in the country.
The Serra da Estrela offers the whole range for extensive climbing tours, including great descents, some of which are 20 kilometres long. Up to the Torre alone, a frequent mountain arrival on the Tour of Portugal, you can choose between three approaches. The long and moderately steep variant from Seia, the southern route peppered with steep ramps or the route from Covilhã. The road surface in the Serra is mostly of the finest quality, only in the border region with Spain and west of Guarda are the side roads a little bumpy. However, you will be shaken by cobblestones almost everywhere in the villages. Don't hold the handlebars tightly there, but rather grip them loosely and control the bumps.
You can download the entire article with these tours and the GPS data below:
- Tour 1: To the Torre (127 km, 2,700 m elevation gain, max. 10 per cent gradient)
- Tour 2: Queen's stage (129 km, 2,600 m elevation gain, max. 12 per cent gradient)
- Tour 3: To the border region (116 km, 1,550 m elevation gain, max. 10 per cent gradient)
- Tour 4: To the village of villages (95 km, 1,200 m elevation gain, max. 18 per cent gradient)
