Where is Alto de Torre-Serra da Estrela?
Portugal, europe
50 km
1,996 m
moderate
Year-round
Cruising through the Serra da Estrela Natural Park in northeastern Portugal? You absolutely HAVE to tackle Regional Road 339 (R 339) up to Alto de Torre! This paved beauty winds for 50 km (31 miles) from Seia to Covilhã, ultimately delivering you to the highest point in Mainland Portugal at a cool 1,996m (6,548ft).
Fair warning, this isn't a Sunday drive for the faint of heart! Prepare for some seriously steep climbs; you'll be hitting gradients of up to 10.4% in places! The summit itself is a bit of a scene, with radar domes, a chapel, and even spots to grab a bite.
Usually, you can reach the top year-round, but be aware that winter can throw a wrench in the plans with closures due to crazy weather. In fact, this peak sees the lowest temps in all of Portugal! If you're lucky enough to be there during a cold snap, it's the only spot in the country where you can ski.
Oh, and the views? Forget about it! King John the 6th knew what he was doing when he ordered that stone monument ("Torre" - Tower) to be built up there. On a clear day, you can supposedly see the Atlantic Ocean way off in the distance - over 100 miles (161 km)! Seriously, this drive is worth every hairpin turn.
Road Details
- Country
- Portugal
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 50 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,996 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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