Description
Choupal National Forest (Mata Nacional do Choupal) is a short distance from the city center of Coimbra and runs alongside the Mondego River. This grove of poplar trees was planted in an attempt to stop the floods of the Mondego river. Since the 19th century many other trees have grown in the area. The forest feels more like a big citypark and is a popular place for recreation, exercise and picnics. But still a nice area for birding and more than 100 different bird species have been seen here. Besides that it is a beautiful area for strolling around with lots of small bridges, waterways and paths to explore the area. Along the river and in the quiet parts you can find most birds. Among the birds you can see in Choupal are konipas horský, volavka stříbřitá, čáp bílý, ledňáček říční, zvonohlík zahradní, astrild vlnkovaný, králíček ohnivý, rehek domácí, pěnice bělohrdlá and cetie jižní. luňák hnědý and orel nejmenší can be seen circling above the forest.
Details
Access
Choupal is located within the northwestern section of Coimbra, bordering the right-side margins of the river Mondego for about 2 kilometres. Easy to reach from the city, less than 2 km walking from the center. The forest has trails for jogging, walking, cycling and horse-riding. It can be busy, so visiting early on the day is a good option. The circular walk shown on the map is about 6,5 km long.
