Gardunha
Encyclopedia
The Gardunha mountain range (Serra da Gardunha), so called by the Moors
(Gardunha or Guardunha meaning refuge), is located in central Portugal
, in Centro Region, beyond the Serra da Estrela range, giving way to an extensive plain called Cova da Beira
. It was covered with vineyards in the time of King Dinis
, who reigned in the 13th and 14th centuries. But the sovereign decided to pull them up and replace them with chestnut
trees all over the Alcambar valley. The valley became known as the King's groves. Unfortunately though, due to man's negligence, violent fires destroyed a significant number of trees, although some areas were reforested. Pirâmide (1,223m/4,013ft), is the highest point in Gardunha mountain range.
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
(Gardunha or Guardunha meaning refuge), is located in central Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, in Centro Region, beyond the Serra da Estrela range, giving way to an extensive plain called Cova da Beira
Cova da Beira
Cova da Beira is a NUTS3 subregion of Portugal integrated in the NUTS2 Centro region. It lies in the fertile valley between the Serra da Estrela and Gardunha mountains. It covers an area of 1,373 km², with a population of 92,460 inhabitants for a density of 67 hab/km². The major cities are Covilhã ...
. It was covered with vineyards in the time of King Dinis
Denis of Portugal
Dinis , called the Farmer King , was the sixth King of Portugal and the Algarve. The eldest son of Afonso III of Portugal by his second wife, Beatrice of Castile and grandson of king Alfonso X of Castile , Dinis succeeded his father in 1279.-Biography:As heir to the throne, Infante Dinis was...
, who reigned in the 13th and 14th centuries. But the sovereign decided to pull them up and replace them with chestnut
Chestnut
Chestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
trees all over the Alcambar valley. The valley became known as the King's groves. Unfortunately though, due to man's negligence, violent fires destroyed a significant number of trees, although some areas were reforested. Pirâmide (1,223m/4,013ft), is the highest point in Gardunha mountain range.