Montemor-o-Novo, located in the heart of the Alentejo, has a rich history dating back to the Lower Palaeolithic.
As a municipality rich in natural heritage, Montemor-o-Novo's main ecosystem is the cork oak forest.
The Montado is a ecosystem very particular, man-made, characteristic of the Alentejo. They are forests of cork oaks and holm oaks that remain only in the area of the Mediterranean. In the case of PortugalPortugal is the country with the largest cork oak forest in the world (33% of the world area). The cork oak forest is legally protected, with felling prohibited and exploitation encouraged, making Portugal the world's leading exporter of cork oaks. cork.
In addition to cork, the montados are important production sites that provide humans with food and other raw materials, such as firewood, acorns, honey, edible and medicinal wild plants, mushrooms, game and also meat from the various pastures that feed on this ecosystem. The montados are also important biodiversity sites, particularly for flora, and are environmental regulators in that they release oxygen, store carbon dioxide, moderate temperatures, facilitate the infiltration of water into the soil and fix the soil, preventing erosion.
These are cultural landscapes insofar as they are intervened upon by man, and from which various traditions, customs and rural ways of life emerge, such as the montes, emblematic rural housing units in the Alentejo, which were part of the herdades (large landholdings in the montado).
This is a nature protection mechanism that aims to create a European nature conservation network made up of selected sites in each member state where there are habitats or species of fauna and flora of conservation interest at Community level. In the case of Montemor-o-Novo, two areas were selected as sites, the Cabrela and Monfurado sites. In total, these areas represent around 35,164 hectares in the municipality.
With a total area of 56.6 hectares, it covers the municipalities of Montemor -o-Novo, Alcácer do Sal and Viana do Alentejo.
This is an area with low altitudes, where holm oak forests, some cork oak forests and mixed forests predominate. On the steeper slopes we can see the existence of holm oak and arbutus forests. The site is an important area for the conservation of the Iberian lynx population.
The Monfurado site, with a total area of 23.9 hectares, covers the municipalities of Montemor-o-Novo and Évora and extends from altitudes of around 150 metres to 420 metres. It is an area dominated by important cork oak and holm oak forests.
It is considered an area of great importance for the conservation of various species of bats, which inhabit the dens of Monfurado.
Find the perfect accommodation for your stay in Montemor-o-Novo. Explore incredible destinations with options for all styles and budgets.
In Montemor-o-Novo, gastronomy is a reflection of Alentejo's rich heritage, where authentic flavours and local products can be found at the table.
Montemor-o-Novo is an invitation to discover and experience the authentic Alentejo. From the castle walls to the nooks and crannies of the city, there's always something to do and explore.
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