Spring Festival 2025 Celebrated Biodiversity at Penha Mountain and Attracted Thousands of Visitors

Penha Mountain provided the inspiring setting for the 2025 Spring Festival, which this year focused on the theme of biodiversity.

The two-day event was organized by the Laboratório da Paisagem (Landscape Laboratory), with the support of the Municipality of Guimarães, the Brotherhood of Penha, and the European URBACT BiodiverCity project, at a time when Guimarães is preparing to become the European Green Capital in 2026.

The 2025 edition was marked by strong public participation, with thousands of people visiting Penha and taking part in the many activities on offer. The program included an eco-market, themed workshops, environmental awareness sessions, and several concerts and performances that delighted visitors.

During the event, a new publication by the Laboratório da Paisagem was presented: the Guimarães Mammals Guide, which gathers information on around fifty species identified in the municipality, reinforcing the ongoing efforts to value and promote local biodiversity.

Once again, the Spring Festival served as a true meeting point between nature, culture, and community. Many visitors chose to use the Guimarães cable car to access the event, standing out as a sustainable and practical alternative. According to an informal survey conducted by the Laboratório da Paisagem, more than 60% of visitors used this means of transport.

Visitors also had the opportunity to explore several hiking trails through Penha’s old mines or immerse themselves in an environment rich in native fauna and flora. These trails provided direct contact with the mountain’s ecological diversity, showcasing unique species, centuries-old trees, and geological formations of great interest. Beyond nature, Penha’s cultural heritage — including sanctuaries, chapels, viewpoints, and sculptures — offered moments of contemplation and discovery, further highlighting the historical value of this iconic site in Guimarães.

Thus, Penha once again established itself as a privileged place for celebrating spring and fostering a harmonious relationship between humans and the environment.

A Festa da Primavera foi, mais uma vez, um verdadeiro encontro entre natureza, cultura e comunidade. Muitos dos visitantes optaram por utilizar o teleférico de Guimarães como forma de acesso ao evento, destacando-se como uma alternativa sustentável e prática. De acordo com um inquérito informal realizado pelo Laboratório da Paisagem, foi mesmo o meio utilizado por mais de 60% dos visitantes.

Os visitantes tiveram também a oportunidade de explorar vários percursos pedestres, pelas minas da Penha, ou mergulhando num ambiente rico em fauna e flora autóctones. Estes trilhos permitiram um contacto direto com a diversidade ecológica da montanha, onde se cruzam espécies únicas, árvores centenárias e formações geológicas de grande interesse. Para além da natureza, o património cultural da Penha — como os santuários, capelas, miradouros e esculturas — ofereceu momentos de contemplação e descoberta, reforçando o valor histórico deste local emblemático de Guimarães.

A Penha voltou assim a afirmar-se como um lugar privilegiado de celebração da primavera e da relação harmoniosa entre o ser humano e o ambiente.