Lousã

Located in the center of Portugal, Lousã is a village with many reasons of interest, being well known to adventure sports practitioners, whose privileged stage is the Serra da Lousã, true ex-libris of the region.

In the southwestern tip of the Central Cordillera, the Serra da Lousã has an extension of 4,200 ha, the highest point being the Alto do Trevim, at 1202 meters. It is a predominantly schist zone, where traces of the evergreen forest of temperate climates remain, such as holly and laurel. Deciduous forests have replaced the previous ones, although there are still oaks and chestnut groves, in scattered patches in the valleys and hillsides that surround the villages. The cork oaks and holm oaks are found in the southern lands. In the higher areas, due to the poverty of the soils, heather, gorse, gorse and gorse are found.

Of the most interesting areas, Cantão das Hortas stands out, with birch trees, American oaks and chestnut trees, cedars and wild pines; Mata do Sobral, with micro-climatic conditions and Mediterranean-influenced vegetation; the Ribeira de São João Valley, which stretches along the "Caminho da Levada", where the paths are flanked by schist walls and the land covered with chestnut trees, which give the landscape a particular color.
To get to know this mountain region better, there are several walking and off-road vehicles that you can take.

(source: www.visitportugal.com )