From 31 May to 2 June, binoculars and cameras
will once again descend on the streets of Miranda do Douro, in northeast
Portugal, for Iberian nature festival ObservArribas. Over the course of three
days, hundreds of birdwatchers and nature-lovers will come and explore the
Douro region’s birds, views and traditions.
From watching eagles and vultures – Europe’s
largest birds – to searching for birds at night-time, tasting local cuisine or
joining in a traditional dance, ObservArribas caters to all tastes. Visitors
will have a chance to explore the region on foot, by boat and even in an
electric car – a novelty this year. Now in its third edition, the festival is
moving to the centre of town.
Right next to the castle walls will sit a veritable nature fair, featuring local products and a screening of environment-themed films. And as the festival spans International Child’s Day, there will be no shortage of activities for young explorers.
Right next to the castle walls will sit a veritable nature fair, featuring local products and a screening of environment-themed films. And as the festival spans International Child’s Day, there will be no shortage of activities for young explorers.
“Right from the start,
Life Rupis was always predicated on the idea that local development and nature
conservation should be allies. This region’s culture has been shaped by nature:
by the river, by the climate. So in this third edition we brought ObservArribas
to the centre of town, so that even people who don’t go on a hike or join a
birdwatching session can feel that connection between the region’s nature and
its people,” says Joaquim Teodósio, who coordinates
SPEA’s Land Conservation Department and the Life Rupis Project.
The festival’s stars will be the region’s birds, which visitors will get to see from every possible angle: in daytime and night-time; in the city, on the cliffs and from the river itself. And if you wish to see nature through the eyes of those who depend on it, you can join a local shepherd on his rounds.
In the centre of Miranda do Douro, young and old
will be able to get down to business: grown-ups can use beeswax to make
plastic-free clingfilm, while youngsters reuse everyday things to make
binoculars. And all can be enthralled by the “CSI dogs” demonstrating their
work with the National Guard’s nature protection service.
With dozens of activities throughout the region
– in Portugal and Spain – ObservArribas is an invitation to explore the natural
and cultural heritage of the Douro canyon.
Find more information at:- www.observarribas.com.
