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In case of emergency within the Park call 916 319 197
The Biological Park of VilaNova de Gaia was the firstpermanent
EnvironmentalEducation Centre in theCountry and consists of
anagro-forestry area of 35hectares, where hundreds ofspecies of
animals andplants live in the wild.
The objective of the BiologicalPark is to improve the
Visitorsunderstanding of the Regionslandscape, including all
itscomponents (flora, fauna,climate, rural architecture, customs,
hydrography, etc.), andthe contrast between this agro-forestry
landscape, which ispreserved in the Park, and the urban
environment. There-fore, the park is, first and foremost, a
memorial landscapeof the region, which is in danger of losing its
special charac-teristics in favour of civil construction.
The Biological Park is also a small Nature Reserve fornatural
fauna and flora and has more than forty species ofwild birds
nesting in the Park and many others which visitthe Park during the
migratory season.
The Biological Park also integrates a Recovery Centrefor wild
animals, which have been found injured or havebeen kept illegally
in captivity. It is also fully equipped towelcome the reception and
parking of Auto-caravaners.
Timetable ParkOpening: Every day of the year at 10:00.Closing
Park: Spring / Summer 1st April to 30th September:Monday to Friday,
19h00; Saturdays and Sundays, 20h00.Autumn / Winter 1st October to
31st March, 18h00.(Last entry is one hour before the Closing time
of the Park)Between 1st January and 25th December, the Park is
opened duringits normal period, but Services will be reduced to a
minimum in themorning, and the Cafeteria bar is closed until
14h00.
AccessComing from the South, by the IP1 Lisbon/Porto road, after
thelast tollgate, follow the direction of IP1/Ponte do Freixo.Turn
off at Castelo de Paiva/Avintes. You are now on theNational Road N.
222; the Biological Park is 1km ahead followthe signs. At the
second set of traffic lights, turn left and followthe signs to the
Parque Biolgico.
Coming from the North, by the IP1 Lisboa/Porto, after the Ponte
doFreixo, a turn at the second roundabout and follow the road sign
toCastelo de Paiva/Avintes. You are now on the National Road N.222;
the Biological Park is 1km ahead follow the signs. At thesecond set
of traffic lights, turn left and follow the signs to theParque
Biolgico.
Facilities
Restaurant, Guesthouse, Auditorium, Exhibitions,
Auto-caravanPark, Birthday Parties and other Group Activities!
Reservation of visits contact:
[email protected] Education Activities
(Information) contact:[email protected] E VIDA
SELVAGEM Magazine (PARKS AND
WILDLIFE):[email protected]:[email protected]
Nursery: [email protected] Park: Tourists
travelling by this means have areserved place so that they may
spend the evening in Porto.
Biological Park of Vila Nova de Gaia USEFUL INFORMATION
consult our Program of Activities at:
or the Reception at each Park
Biological Park of Vila Nova de Gaia
all for a good ride
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Journey of theDiscoveryin the Park
1. Refuge Centre2. Picnic Area3. Heronry4. Bird Estuary5. Deer,
Badgers and Buttonquails
6. Kites7. Saint Tusso Farm8. Exhibition Mills and Implements9.
Foxes
10. Goats and Wild-boar
11. Roe Deer12. The Bogas Farm: Donkeys, cows
Exhibition Exotics: By the hand of Man13. European Bison14. The
Chasco Farm (Wheat Farm)
15. Diurnal Birds of Prey16. The Lake17. Aquatic Birds18. The
Cunha Farm
A. Entry to the Park
B. Plant Nursery and the Auto-Caravan ParkC. Veterinary and
Zootechnical SectorD. Animal Recovery CentreE. Biorama ExhibitionF.
Second phase of the expansion of the Park
The Park has a Discovery Nature Trail of approximately three
kilometres. Along the routeyou will find various Showcases with a
variety of information displayed. In the circuit areincluded
restored rural homes, windmills, lakes and nurseries with animals
and diverseflora. The whole route is paved and signposted. You will
also find Shelters, Restrooms,Exhibitions and you will see other
points of interest.
TRAIL OF THE PARK
Biorama ExhibitionThis is an Exhibition Complex that hopes to
restorevarious biomes (the large ecological communities of
our planet), such as the Savannah, the Rainforest andthe
Mesozoic environment.Saint Tusso FarmCasalinho Farm, Saint Tusso
Farm or GoldsmithFarm which were so named in accordance with
theirformer owners various occupations is situated infront of the
mountain of the Chasco and is one of theoldest Farms in the
region.Exhibition Mills and Implements
The Belmiro Windmill on the bank of the RiverFebros, was
important as a major corn-grindingproducer in the olden days. The
grinding of cerealswas a very important activity in the River
Febrosregion. Today, very few mills are still functioning
being victims of competition with the larger IndustrialMills.
The Belmiro watermill was restored in 1991, inorder to demonstrate
how the former Millers andFarmers lived, and it also houses an
Exhibition ofAgricultural implements and Domestic utensils.
Roe Deer
The Roe Deer Enclosure contains a herd of these
herbivores which are by nature, very timid. In order to beable
to see them properly, please be as quiet aspossible. The male deer
has horns, which are cast off
and re-grown every year. In April, the meadow in the
enclosure is carpeted with wild flowers.
European Bison
The European Bison originally lived throughout Europe,having
Sweden and Western Siberia as its northern
boundaries. The Bison became extinct in the wild in 1921,
in the Bialowiesa Forest in Poland.Fortunately, this species was
able to be saved because at
the time there were 56 head of Bison in Parks and Zoosthroughout
Europe, which allowed their reproduction and
re-introduction to some of its European natural habit.
Chasco Farm
The main House at Chasco dates back to the 16th
Century and was the centre of a major agriculturalestate, with a
large corn storage area built in 1905, and a
small mill (both restored in 1997), that only served thishouse;
unlike the Belmiro Mill (the huge mill in the
Park), which served many houses.
The house of Chasco was partially restored in 2005, to
house an exhibition of animals, which normally live inruins and
old buildings.
Wildlife Refuge
A Wildlife Refuge is an area devoted to Nature. Large orSmall?
Is that important? Perhaps not!
The Grey Heron, the Water hen, birds, amphibians and
all the other animals appreciate the area and occupytheir own
spaces in it.
Saint Tusso Farm
Exhibition Mills and Implements
Roe Deer
European Bison
Chasco Farm
Wildlife Refuge
Chamber V. N. Gaia
