Saturday, 24 October 2020

AROUCA UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK (PORTUGAL)


AROUCA UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK

N 40°55'56'', W 008°14'42''

The Arouca Geopark corresponds to the administrative area of the municipality of Arouca, district of Aveiro, in Portugal. It includes Serra da Freita and Passadiços do Paiva.

Originated in 2005 and formally created in 2007, it has been part of the World Geoparks Network since April 22, 2009.

41 places of geological interest were inventoried, demonstrating the high geodiversity of the area.

Geosites
Of the set of 41 identified geosites, four of international importance stand out, namely Frecha da Mizarela (largest waterfall in Portugal), the fossil collection at the Canelas Geological Interpretation Center (with the largest trilobites in the world) and the Castanheira Fold Field.

What if suddenly you were presented with a live book telling the history of the Earth represented on the rocky landscape, the rivers running in a hurry, the green of the landscape, and the silence of the mountain? Yes, in the Arouca Geopark it is possible to travel in space and time. Those who arrive here are surprised at each step, and the destination is not only the end of the journey. It is, on the contrary, the beginning of another adventure, going back in time, until the beginning of a history with more than 500 million years.

Please note: the entire municipality of Arouca is classified as geopark. Every centimeter of the 328 square kilometers. Every smile that welcomes the ones who arrive here. Every heather flower painting the Freita Mountain’s plateau. Every drop of water from the Paiva River’s rapids. This huge green cloak has 41 geological interesting sites (geosites), and almost half of them are classified by the Natura 2000 network.

But, more than arrive here, we must live. And to live means passing through unique experiences that arise in this place. There are pedestrian trails to go through, to meet and to record on the best photo albums of the memory. There are amazing trails that let the adventure continue by mountain biking. There are explosions of adrenaline in the adventure sports of the Paiva. There are traditional villages that keep and plan for the future the memory of those who lived and still live here. There is the craftsmanship, the folklore and the traditions that keep telling our history. And all that makes part of us and defines us is kept and preserved here, waiting for the moment to be told and left has a heritage to the future generations.

So, here, you will always have your place in history. In the history of the Earth. In our history. In your history. In a new history that we’ll write together from the moment we tell you «Welcome to the Arouca Geopark».


How to get

The Arouca Geopark is a territory to arrive and to stay. The discovery starts with the journey. This unique and unforgettable destiny is not too far from the roads like A1 and A32 (at the west), the A4 (at north), the A24 and A25 (at south) and at one hour by car from the cities of Aveiro and Porto, at about one and a half hours from the cities of Coimbra, Viseu and Braga, and at two hours from Lisbon. You will want to come back to discover new surprises.

After you leave the main roads (highways), the EN225 and EN326 national roads are the best alternatives to arrive at the Arouca Geopark. 

North/South direction

(A1)
Exit: Santa Maria da Feira/São João da Madeira/Vale de Cambra/Arouca

After you leave the A1, the estimated travel time to the Arouca Geopark is 40 minutes. 

(A32)
Exit: Carregosa/Pindelo/Vale de Cambra/Arouca
After you leave the A32, the estimated travel time to the Arouca Geopark is 40 minutes. 

South/North direction

(A1)
Exit: Estarreja/Oliveira de Azeméis/Vale de Cambra/Arouca
After you leave the A1, the estimated travel time to the Arouca Geopark is 45 minutes. 

East/West direction

(A25)
Exit: Porto (A1) – Estarreja/Oliveira de Azeméis/Vale de Cambra/Arouca
After you leave the A25, the estimated travel time to the Arouca Geopark is 45 minutes. 

(EN225)
Cinfães/Castro Daire/Castelo de Paiva
Depending on the point of departure, the estimated travel time to the Arouca Geopark can vary between 30 and 60 minutes.











https://en.unesco.org/global-geoparks/arouca


http://aroucageopark.pt/en/


https://geotourismroute.eu/geoparks/arouca-geopark/
















Return to mainland Portugal & 
the Azores and Madeira islands




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