Parque Biológico da Serra da Lousã

The Parque Biológico da Serra da Lousã sits on the slopes of the Serra da Lousã, in Miranda do Corvo, a short drive from Coimbra. It opened in 2009 and describes itself as the largest collection of Portuguese wildlife: more than 300 animals from over 60 species, most of them native to the country.

The wild section is the reason to come. Iberian wolves, brown bears, lynx, wild boar and several kinds of deer live in enclosures built into the forest, so you walk under trees rather than past concrete. Many of the birds of prey can no longer survive in the wild, which is why you can stand a metre away from an eagle-owl and watch it decide whether you are worth its attention.

Beyond the animals, the park includes an educational farm with Portuguese livestock breeds, a maze made of fruit trees, a rose garden and small museums on cooperage and traditional crafts. It is run by Fundação ADFP, a social foundation, and part of its mission is employing people with disabilities in the daily care of the animals.

We visited at the end of May 2026, when the deer were still growing their antlers in velvet, the lynx was more interested in yawning than hunting and the farm was full of new kids and piglets. These frames are the result: close portraits, mostly through fences, of animals that clearly knew they were being watched.

Plan at least half a day. The paths are outdoors and follow the hillside, so wear comfortable shoes.