Located in the foothills of Serra da Gardunha, on the plateau of Cova da Beira, Fundão is a city, seat of county, about 500 meters high.
This is a region of very fertile lands, wisely explored over the centuries, where great productions of fruit are famous, namely the Cherry of the Fundão.
Place with vestiges of human occupation from remote times, with archaeological legacies of castrejas and Roman civilizations. However, the greatest development occurred with Jewish refugees expelled from Spain in 1492, and their establishment in the region of Cova da Beira, where there were already significant Jewish minorities. The influx of Jewish merchants and artisans would make the city an important center for trade and industry.
With the discovery and exploration of existing tin mines in the region, and the development of a flourishing textile industry, in the 17th and 18th centuries, another great development unfolds at Fundão.
Testimonies of these golden times are many of the beautiful and rich churches and splendid mansions and emblazoned houses, many of them now transformed into quality housing and ecological tourism units.
The Gastronomy of this region of Beira is rich, especially the pickled partridge, the kid’s estonado, the cookies of olive oil, and the vegetables and fruits of great quality, produced in this zone.
Historical Village of Castelo Novo
In the heart of Serra da Gardunha, in a natural amphitheater landscape, in green and gray tones, warmed by the sun, we discover Castelo Novo, a historic village of Portugal, surrounded by an aura of mysticism and transcendence.
Here we feel something fascinating, that surrounds us and harmonizes. Everything inspires us … everything captivates us …. From the sounds of the waters that flow from the fountains, to the perpetual granite that lifts the village, and carves the house, the temples, the sidewalks, the squares …
Walking through Castelo Novo is to taste contrasts of colors, flavors and textures and when we think we have already discovered everything … Above the imposing castle, which has kept history and secrets for more than 800 years. A Templar heritage defended by brave walls.
Castelo Novo, awakens our senses: the smells of the earth and the fireplaces lit in the winter, the ones brought from the spring water that accompany us, and the flavors of ours: chestnuts, cherries, olive oil, bread, cheese And wine.
We unveil the memories of its people, who keep ancestral knowledge, that the wind still whispers to us: Legends, tales and punishments
Castelo Novo, a mixture of experiences and emotions that enriches us. A treasure that remains intact waiting to be lived.
Serra da Gardunha
The Gardunha is a haven of unparalleled beauty where pristine nature embraces dawn and dusk, witnessing the perpetual motion of shepherds and herds in their seasonal rhythms.
Go through its pedestrian paths to the sound of crystalline water streams, habitat for numerous animal and vegetable species. Integrated into the nature reserve Rede Natura 2000 and the Naturtejo Geopark, the mountain offers you the hardness of granite and the fragility of the cherry blossom. The Cherry Route is another sweet gift Gardunha gives you.
Following the course of the waters of the Zêzere, venture on the tracks of the Ouro Negro and know the variety of crystals of the Panasqueira Mines.
Gastronomy
Gastronomy is a testimony of past generations, inspired by the local products and the experiences of daily life. To the Fundão was bequeathed a rich and valuable gastronomic heritage that was strengthened as a cultural element, since food is memory being associated with the senses odor, sight and taste.
The Municipality of Fundão as a way of promoting, publicizing and preserving the gastronomic collection of the county, carries out throughout the year, five gastronomic festivals, associated to a thematic or a local product that are evidenced by characterize the county and value the identity of the territory.
In this way, the restaurants and pastries of the county are challenged to create and reinvent recipes based on the endogenous and genuine products that give Beira Baixa cuisine a high quality seasoned with the taste of tradition.