Fundão is known throughout Portugal for the quality of its locally-grown cherries, and while they may be a product of excellence, the city is filled with other wonders and many stories waiting to be discovered.

In the historic centre, visit the Archaeological Museum, which is located in an old 16th-century manor house, to uncover the thousands of years of history for which the area has been populated. Step inside the São Martinho Mother Church to admire the baroque gilded work. It was in this very church that famed fado singer Amália Rodrigues was baptised. Stroll through the streets enjoying Urban Art and rest in the shade of one of the pleasant terraces in Praça do Município, or relax in Parque Verde, a leisure area within the city.

Casa do Bombo de Lavacolhos ©C. M. Fundão

Fundão is part of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. International recognition for the preservation of local crafts and the population’s lifelong desire to learn is visible in the “Houses and Places of Sense” network. The Casa do Barro do Telhado, the Casa das Tecedeiras de Janeiro de Cima, and the Casa do Bombo de Lavacolhos showcase the various dimensions of popular art in a unique way, enriching the experience of visiting the region.

Caas da Memória ©C.M. Fundão

If you seek out locations that have inspired writers of times long gone, in Fundão, you’ll find one of the stops on José Saramago’s The Elephant's Journey, a route that you can follow, recreating the route taken by Solomon the elephant. Writer Eugénio de Almeida, after whom the municipal library is named, was also born in Fundão, as was politician and former Prime Minister António Guterres, whose estate was donated to the city can be visited at the Casa da Memória (Memory House). A Portuguese flag given to the city by Xanana Gusmão and a nativity scene gifted by Yasser Arafat stand out among the collection. In the village of Póvoa da Atalaia, birthplace of poet Eugénio de Andrade, don't miss the Casa da Poesia (Poetry House), dedicated to his life and work.

Chocalho - Festival da Transumância ©C.M. Fundão

Elsewhere in the municipality, visit the Schist Villages of Barroca, Janeiro de Cima and Janeiro de Baixo, known for their traditional crafts and river beaches, and the Historic Village of Castelo Novo, where an old music festival takes place that seeks to recreate sounds from the medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods using original instruments.

In the village of Alpedrinha, the Chocalhos - Transhumance Festival is worth mentioning, which takes place in the autumn and celebrates the tradition of herding, accompanying the shepherds who bring their flocks from the mountain pastures to the valleys and plains for the winter.

Parque Fluvial de Janeiro de Cima ©C. M. Fundão

Located between Serra da Estrela and Serra da Gardunha, Fundão is home to a diversity of landscapes, which can be enjoyed at the Pedra d'Hera or Alcongosta Watchtower Viewpoints, and which invite you to get stuck into outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, or tree-top rope courses. The Zêzere River provides the perfect place to cool off on hotter days, as do the local river beaches at Castelo Novo, Barroca, Janeiro de Cima, and Lavacolhos, where you can go canoeing or simply for a good swim.

©C.M. Fundão

In terms of regional cuisine, cherries naturally have a special place. At Casa da Cereja (Cherry House), located in the old primary school in Alcongosta, visitors can explore the most varied aspects and characteristics of this much-loved fruit, which is used in many dishes and sweet treats made in the region. The natural beauty of the cherry trees blossoming is not to be missed in spring, nor is the Cherry Festival in June.

In a region of shepherds, visitors must sample cheese made the traditional way. Casa do Queijo da Orca (Orca Cheese House) serves a worthy contender. Other regional flavours, such as goat and lamb dishes, enrich any visit to Fundão, where visitors can enjoy the quality of natural produce such as chestnuts, honey, walnuts, corn, quince, mushrooms, and olive oil.