Being the highest mountain in Portugal, Estrela is well-known amongst the Portuguese, which is part of a certain national imagination where the elements of snow, sheep, shepherds, cheese and woollen goods are always present, even for those that have never gone up to the Tower (the highest point).

The history of wolfram began in 1881, when a peasant, originally from Casegas, discovered in Panasqueira, a place belonging to the S. Jorge da Beira parish (at the time called Cebola), some very heavy black rocks. These were identified as wolfram and from there the Couto Mining of Panasqueira was born.

Schist is one of the most defining elements of the ADERES landscape territories. It rises on ridges, limiting and guiding through the cliffs, rivers and streams. Due to the tenacity of men extracting and carving it, raising the walls that limited the properties and paths, erecting monumental terraces and houses from the most modest to the most noble; during centuries it was also the covering of these dwellings, permanently or temporarily. Schist is therefore present everywhere, being a remarkable testimony of an abundant resource, but also of a hard life.

The river here is the Zêzere! It begins at Estrela, towards Tejo, crossing through the South-Estrela territory. From Vales de Rio to Barco, go relaxed. From there begins a treacherous path between meanders. During wet and snowy winters it changes character and colour