Biological Park of Vila Nova de Gaia

The Biological Park of Vila Nova de Gaia was the first permanent Environmental Education Centre in the Country and consists of an agro-forestry area of 35 hectares, where hundreds of species of animals and plants live in the wild. The objective of the Biological Park is to improve the Visitors understanding of the Regions landscape, including all its components (flora, fauna, climate, rural architecture, customs, hydrography, etc.), and the contrast between this agro-forestry landscape, which is preserved in the Park, and the urban environment. Therefore, the park is, first and foremost, a memorial landscape of the region, which is in danger of losing its special characteristics in favour of civil construction. The Biological Park is also a small Nature Reserve for natural fauna and flora and has more than forty species of wild birds nesting in the Park and many others which visit the Park during the migratory season. The Biological Park also integrates a Recovery Centre for wild animals, which have been found injured or have been kept illegally in captivity. It is also fully equipped to welcome the reception and parking of Auto-caravaners.

USEFUL INFORMATION
Timetable Park Opening: 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 during its normal period, but Services will be reduced to a minimum in the morning, and the Cafeteria bar is closed until 14h00. Access Coming from the South, by the IP1 Lisbon/Porto road, after the last tollgate, follow the direction of IP1/Ponte do Freixo. Turn off at Castelo de Paiva/Avintes. You are now on the National Road N. 222; the Biological Park is 1km ahead follow the signs. At the second set of traffic lights, turn left and follow the signs to the Parque Biolgico. Coming from the North, by the IP1 Lisboa/Porto, after the Ponte do Freixo, a turn at the second roundabout and follow the road sign to Castelo de Paiva/Avintes. You are now on the National Road N. 222; the Biological Park is 1km ahead follow the signs. At the second set of traffic lights, turn left and follow the signs to the Parque Biolgico. Facilities Restaurant, Guesthouse, Auditorium, Exhibitions, Auto-caravan Park, Birthday Parties and other Group Activities! Reservation of visits contact: visitas@parquebiologico.pt Environmental Education Activities (Information) contact: educacao@parquebiologico.pt PARQUES E VIDA SELVAGEM Magazine (PARKS AND WILDLIFE): revista@parquebiologico.pt Guesthouse: hospedaria@parquebiologico.pt Plant Nursery: viveiro@parquebiologico.pt Auto-caravan Park: Tourists travelling by this means have a reserved place so that they may spend the evening in Porto.
In case of emergency within the Park call 916 319 197 consult our Program of Activities at:

all for a good ride

Biological Park of Vila Nova de Gaia

or the Reception at each Park

Journey of the Discovery in the Park

TRAIL OF THE PARK

1. Refuge Centre 2. Picnic Area 3. Heronry 4. Bird Estuary 5. Deer, Badgers and Buttonquails

6. Kites 7. Saint Tusso Farm 8. Exhibition Mills and Implements 9. Foxes 10. Goats and Wild-boar

11. Roe Deer 12. The Bogas Farm: Donkeys, cows Exhibition Exotics: By the hand of Man 13. European Bison 14. The Chasco Farm (Wheat Farm)

15. Diurnal Birds of Prey 16. The Lake 17. Aquatic Birds 18. The Cunha Farm A. Entry to the Park

B. Plant Nursery and the Auto-Caravan Park C. Veterinary and Zootechnical Sector D. Animal Recovery Centre E. Biorama Exhibition F. Second phase of the expansion of the Park

The Park has a Discovery Nature Trail of approximately three kilometres. Along the route you will find various Showcases with a variety of information displayed. In the circuit are included restored rural homes, windmills, lakes and nurseries with animals and diverse flora. The whole route is paved and signposted. You will also find Shelters, Restrooms, Exhibitions and you will see other points of interest. Biorama Exhibition This is an Exhibition Complex that hopes to restore various biomes (the large ecological communities of our planet), such as the Savannah, the Rainforest and the Mesozoic environment. Saint Tusso Farm Casalinho Farm, Saint Tusso Farm or Goldsmith Farm which were so named in accordance with their former owners various occupations is situated in front of the mountain of the Chasco and is one of the oldest Farms in the region. Exhibition Mills and Implements The Belmiro Windmill on the bank of the River Febros, was important as a major corn-grinding producer in the olden days. The grinding of cereals was a very important activity in the River Febros region. Today, very few mills are still functioning

being victims of competition with the larger Industrial Mills. The Belmiro watermill was restored in 1991, in order to demonstrate how the former Millers and Farmers lived, and it also houses an Exhibition of Agricultural 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 be able to see them properly, please be as quiet as possible. 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 Zoos throughout Europe, which allowed their reproduction and re-introduction to some of its European natural habit.
Exhibition Mills and Implements

Chasco Farm The main House at Chasco dates back to the 16th Century and was the centre of a major agricultural estate, with a large corn storage area built in 1905, and a small mill (both restored in 1997), that only served this house; 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 in ruins and old buildings.

Chasco Farm

Roe Deer

Wildlife Refuge A Wildlife Refuge is an area devoted to Nature. Large or Small? Is that important? Perhaps not! The Grey Heron, the Water hen, birds, amphibians and all the other animals appreciate the area and occupy their own spaces in it.

Wildlife Refuge

Saint Tusso Farm

European Bison

Chamber V. N. Gaia